Countries Law

[ivor4781]

if i am a passenger on a French registered (say air france) aircraft parked at a uk airport do i come under French law or still under UK law

[black_cat51]

well as you are in hte UK, UK law applies to you

[grasscarp]

Not quite true. Unlawful acts committed on an aircraft are judged by country of registration of the aircraft.

[black_cat51]

sorry miss read the question

[Buenchico]

You might find that BOTH countries claim (and can exercise) jurisdiction.

For example, the US authorities claim that they have authority over any aircraft flying to the USA (even if that aircraft isn't US-registered) from the moment that the cabin doors are closed at its departure airport. However if you were to create a disturbance on such an aircraft at a UK airport, British police could still attend and charge you under UK law.

[Peter Pedant]

and under the hi jacking treaty - anyone can have a go ( at shooting you)

[237SJ]

US law doesn`t prevail on UK registered aircraft Chris, UK law does. The minimum age for being served alcohol is 18 as opposed to that in the US as an example.

[grasscarp]

If doors are closed it is country of registration. There are various conventions covering rules. I teach international air law as part of my job.

[237SJ]

The only US law that applies to foreign aircraft that I can think of from the top of my head is the new US disability law that states that if someone buys a through ticket for a flight originating in the US, then US disability laws apply all the way through the sectors.

[Buenchico]

Grasscarp:
The problem of considering US jurisdiction is that the USA frequently claims to have such jurisdiction anyway, irrespective of what international law actually states!

[grasscarp]

I dont doubt you.

[Peter Pedant]

jurisdictions arent exclusive are they ?

If a croation shoots a Frenchie in the German Embassy in London,
I think the Met would take charge even tho it is obviously German soil for most purposes....

[grasscarp]

But where you have a mix of nationalities in various nations aircraft flying over ever changing countries it had to be defined. And it was.

[Buenchico]

It can certainly get complicated, PP.

For example, a British man could travel to a country where it's lawful for him to have sex with a 15yo girl. If he does so, the authorities in that country clearly can't act (because he hasn't broken their laws) but he can still be prosecuted when he arrives back in the UK. So, in effect, the UK is claiming that British laws can apply in other countries.

[ivor4781]

i remember decades ago a man who was wanted by the authorities for being a spy or something boarded a soviet aircraft at heathrow but they were not allowed to enter the aircraft to get him .i know there was a stand off ,forget the outcome though