republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-465/section-46505.md

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LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 46505	Carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	465	SPECIAL AIRCRAFT JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES	46505	49 U.S.C. § 46505	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t49/s46505	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	70d13984ec5c28ec5fa670e6409011d6e8868d2d5ff68f49f5dae5b1b50778e4	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	1eb0ef87caddf4ce5070790284d7c3d41ec13a4323ed9e980938eeb3f77103b5	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

49 U.S.C. § 46505 - Carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft

Text

(a) Definition.— In this section, “loaded firearm” means a starter gun or a weapon designed or converted to expel a projectile through an explosive, that has a cartridge, a detonator, or powder in the chamber, magazine, cylinder, or clip.

(b) General Criminal Penalty.— An individual shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, if the individual—

(1) when on, or attempting to get on, an aircraft in, or intended for operation in, air transportation or intrastate air transportation, has on or about the individual or the property of the individual a concealed dangerous weapon that is or would be accessible to the individual in flight;

(2) has placed, attempted to place, or attempted to have placed a loaded firearm on that aircraft in property not accessible to passengers in flight; or

(3) has on or about the individual, or has placed, attempted to place, or attempted to have placed on that aircraft, an explosive or incendiary device.

(c) Criminal Penalty Involving Disregard for Human Life.— An individual who willfully and without regard for the safety of human life, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, violates subsection (b) of this section, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both, and, if death results to any person, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(d) Nonapplication.— Subsection (b)(1) of this section does not apply to—

(1) a law enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision of a State, or an officer or employee of the United States Government, authorized to carry arms in an official capacity;

(2) another individual the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration by regulation authorizes to carry a dangerous weapon in air transportation or intrastate air transportation; or

(3) an individual transporting a weapon (except a loaded firearm) in baggage not accessible to a passenger in flight if the air carrier was informed of the presence of the weapon.

(e) Conspiracy.— If two or more persons conspire to violate subsection (b) or (c), and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be punished as provided in such subsection.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, § 705(b), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1295; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, §§ 810(g), 811(j), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 381, 382; Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 140(d)(8), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1991(h)(1), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3645.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 46505(a)49 App.:1472(l)(4).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(4); added Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(c), 94 Stat. 59. 46505(b)49 App.:1472(l)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(1); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 417; restated Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(a), 94 Stat. 59; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98–473, § 2014(c)(1), 98 Stat. 2189. 46505(c)49 App.:1472(l)(2).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(2); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 418; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L 98–473, § 2014(c)(2), 98 Stat. 2189. 46505(d)49 App.:1472(l)(3).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(3); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 418; Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(b), 94 Stat. 59. In subsection (a), the definition of “firearm” is merged with the definition of “loaded firearm” because the term “firearm” is only used in the defined term “loaded firearm”. In subsections (b) and (c), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “fined not more than $10,000” and “fined not more than $25,000” for consistency with title 18. In subsections (b)(1) and (d)(2), the words “deadly or” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2), the words “baggage or other” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(3), the words “bomb or similar” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(1), the words “State or political subdivision of a State” are substituted for “municipal or State government” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “or required” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(3), the word “contained” is omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2018—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–254 substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration” for “Under Secretary of Transportation for Security”. 2001—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–56, § 810(g), substituted “20 years, or both, and, if death results to any person, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.” for “15 years, or both.” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(d)(8), inserted “or the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security” after “Federal Aviation Administration”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–56, § 811(j), added subsec. (e). 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–132, § 705(b)(1), substituted “10 years” for “one year”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–132, § 705(b)(2), substituted “15 years” for “5 years”.