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CRM 1000-1499

1401. Criminal Resource Manual 1401 Aircraft Piracy And Other Aircraft Offenses -- General Overview

Sections 46502, 46504, 46505, 46506, and 46507 of Title 49, United States Code, (formerly section 1472(i) through (n) of Title 49 Appendix) set forth the offenses of aircraft piracy and attempted piracy while in flight within or outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, interference with flight crew members or flight attendants while in flight within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, carrying weapons or explosives aboard an aircraft, conveyance of false information or threats regarding certain offenses prohibited by 49 U.S.C. §§ 46502, 46504, 46505, 46506, and 46507 and certain common law offenses. A brief discussion of each of the subsections is contained below.

The definitions of "special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States" and "aircraft in flight" are found in 49 U.S.C. § 46501. The term "aircraft piracy" is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 46502(a)(1)(A).

Destroying or damaging aircraft or aircraft facilities is prohibited by 18 U.S.C. § 32, and bomb hoaxes directed toward aircraft or aircraft facilities are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. §  35. A discussion of these statutes may be found in JM 9-63.200, and the Criminal Resource Manual at 1420-1430.

[updated August 1999] [cited in JM 9-63.100]