49 U.S.C. § 46504

Current through P.L. 118-47 (published on www.congress.gov on 03/23/2024)

Section 46504 - Interference with flight crew members and attendants

An individual on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant of the aircraft, interferes with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessens the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. However, if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the member or attendant, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

49 U.S.C. § 46504

Pub. L. 103-272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 107-56, title VIII, §811(i), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 382.

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
46504	49 App.:1472(j).	Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat. 731, §902(j); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87-197, §1, 75 Stat. 466; Oct. 14, 1970, Pub. L. 91-449, §1(3), 84 Stat. 921.

The words "or threatens" are omitted as being included in "intimidating". The words "(including any steward or stewardess)" are omitted as being included in "attendant". The words "fined under title 18" are substituted for "fined not more than $10,000" for consistency with title 18. The words "deadly or" are omitted as surplus.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS2001- Pub. L. 107-56 inserted "or attempts or conspires to do such an act," before "shall be fined under title 18,".

special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States

"special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States" includes any of the following aircraft in flight:(A) a civil aircraft of the United States.(B) an aircraft of the armed forces of the United States.(C) another aircraft in the United States.(D) another aircraft outside the United States-(i) that has its next scheduled destination or last place of departure in the United States, if the aircraft next lands in the United States;(ii) on which an individual commits an offense (as defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) if the aircraft lands in the United States with the individual still on the aircraft; or(iii) against which an individual commits an offense (as defined in subsection (d) or (e) of article I, section I of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation) if the aircraft lands in the United States with the individual still on the aircraft.(E) any other aircraft leased without crew to a lessee whose principal place of business is in the United States or, if the lessee does not have a principal place of business, whose permanent residence is in the United States.