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.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 538 (formerly 49 U.S.C. App. § 1472(o)), criminal violations of the aircraft piracy and related offense provisions are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). See Pub. L. 103-272, § 4(e)(1), 108 Stat. 1361. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also has administrative responsibility to prevent and, where warranted, to punish such offenses by civil penalties. When linked to terrorism, the aircraft piracy and related offenses are supervised by the Counterterrorism Section (CTS) of the National Security Division. Otherwise, the Criminal Division, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section should be contacted.

[updated January 2020]