US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 46502

Aircraft piracy

(a)

In Special Aircraft Jurisdiction .—

(1)
In this subsection—
(A)
“aircraft piracy” means seizing or exercising control of an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States by force, violence, threat of force or violence, or any form of intimidation, and with wrongful intent.
(B)
an attempt to commit aircraft piracy is in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States although the aircraft is not in flight at the time of the attempt if the aircraft would have been in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States had the aircraft piracy been completed.
(2)
An individual committing or attempting or conspiring to commit aircraft piracy—
(A)
shall be imprisoned for at least 20 years; or
(B)
section 3559(b) of title 18 notwithstanding , if the death of another individual results from the commission or attempt, shall be put to death or imprisoned for life.
(b)

Outside Special Aircraft Jurisdiction .—

(1)
An individual committing or conspiring to commit an offense (as defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) on an aircraft in flight outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States—
(A)
shall be imprisoned for at least 20 years; or
(B)
section 3559(b) of title 18 notwithstanding , if the death of another individual results from the commission or attempt, shall be put to death or imprisoned for life.
(2)
There is jurisdiction over the offense in paragraph (1) if—
(A)
a national of the United States was aboard the aircraft;
(B)
an offender is a national of the United States; or
(C)
an offender is afterwards found in the United States.
(3)
8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22) For purposes of this subsection, the term “national of the United States” has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ().

Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e)108 Stat. 1241 Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(61)108 Stat. 4385 Pub. L. 104–132, title VII110 Stat. 1298 (, , ; , , ; , §§ 721(a), 723(b), , , 1300.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

46502(a)(1)

49 App.:1472(i)(2), (3).

Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(i); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; Oct. 14, 1970, Pub. L. 91–449, § 1(3), 84 Stat. 921; Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, §§ 103(a), 104, 88 Stat. 410, 411.

46502(a)(2)

49 App.:1472(i)(1).

46502(b)(1)

49 App.:1472(n)(1).

Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(n)(1), (3); added Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 103(b), 88 Stat. 410.

46502(b)(2)

49 App.:1472(n)(3).

In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words “offense of” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a)(2), the words “as herein defined” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(2), the words “the place of actual” are omitted as surplus. The words “as defined in paragraph (2) of this subsection” are omitted because of the restatement. The word “country” is substituted for “State” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Pub. L. 103–429

section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 Public Law 103–272108 Stat. 1241 This amends 49:46502(a)(2)(B) and (b)(1)(B) to clarify the restatement of 49 App.:1472(i)(1)(B) and (n)(1)(B) by (, , 1242).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–132, § 723(b)(1)1996—Subsec. (a)(2). , inserted “or conspiring” after “attempting”.

Pub. L. 104–132Subsec. (b)(1). , §§ 721(a)(1), 723(b)(2), in introductory provisions, inserted “or conspiring to commit” after “committing” and struck out “and later found in the United States” after “jurisdiction of the United States”.

Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(a)(2)Subsec. (b)(2). , amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “This subsection applies only if the place of takeoff or landing of the aircraft on which the individual commits the offense is located outside the territory of the country of registration of the aircraft.”

Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(a)(3)Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 103–429section 3559(b) of title 181994—Subsecs. (a)(2)(B), (b)(1)(B). inserted “notwithstanding ,” before “if the death”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–429section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429section 321 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Death Penalty Procedures for Certain Air Piracy Cases Occurring Before Enactment of the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994

Pub. L. 109–177, title II, § 211120 Stat. 230

“(a)

In General .—

Public Law 103–322

“ ‘(c) [Omitted, see below.]’.

Section 60003 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (), is amended, as of the time of its enactment [], by adding at the end the following:
“(b)

Severability Clause .—

Public Law 103–322section 46503 of this titleIf any provision of section 60003(b)(2) of the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 () [repealed ], or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of such section and the application of such section to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60003(c)Pub. L. 109–177, title II, § 211(a)120 Stat. 230

“(c)

Death Penalty Procedures for Certain Previous Aircraft Piracy Violations .—

section 46502 of title 49Public Law 103–322Public Law 93–366section 46503(c)(2) of title 49section 46503(c)(1) of title 49section 46503(c)(2)(B)(iv) of title 49section 3592(c)(6) of title 18An individual convicted of violating , United States Code, or its predecessor, may be sentenced to death in accordance with the procedures established in chapter 228 of title 18, United States Code, if for any offense committed before the enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 () [], but after the enactment of the Antihijacking Act of 1974 () [], it is determined by the finder of fact, before consideration of the factors set forth in sections 3591(a)(2) and 3592(a) and (c) of title 18, United States Code, that one or more of the factors set forth in former , United States Code, or its predecessor, has been proven by the Government to exist, beyond a reasonable doubt, and that none of the factors set forth in former , United States Code, or its predecessor, has been proven by the defendant to exist, by a preponderance of the information. The meaning of the term ‘especially heinous, cruel, or depraved’, as used in the factor set forth in former , United States Code, or its predecessor, shall be narrowed by adding the limiting language ‘in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse to the victim’, and shall be construed as when that term is used in , United States Code.”
, as added by , , , provided that:

Aircraft Piracy

The United States is a party to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed at The Hague, , entered into force as to the United States, , 22 UST 1641.