Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States applies from...

• A. From the moment all external doors are closed following boarding, through the moment when one external door is opened to allow passengers to leave the aircraft.
• B. From boarding until the aircraft lands
• C. From engine start to engine shutdown
• D. From arrival at airport to departure of passengers

Answer: (A)

Special Aircraft Jurisdiction is about when the aircraft becomes a self-contained environment under federal authority. The boundary is tied to door status: it begins when all exterior doors are closed after boarding is complete, signaling that the aircraft is ready to move and the in-flight environment is established. It ends when an exterior door is opened to let passengers disembark, which marks the start of on-the-ground passenger flow outside the cabin’s controlled space. This definition captures the period during which crimes on board or during operation are within federal jurisdiction, rather than times before boarding or after passengers begin to exit.