49 U.S.C. § 44112
Limitation of liability
Historical and Revision Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
44112 | 49 App.:1404. | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 504, 72 Stat. 774; restated July 8, 1959, Pub. L. 86–81, § 2, 73 Stat. 180. |
In subsection (a), clauses (1) and (3) are derived from 49 App.:1404 (2d–57th words). Clause (2) is added for clarity. In clause (1), the words “bona fide” are omitted as surplus. In clause (3), the word “nature” is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “personal injury, death” are substituted for “any injury to or death of persons”, and the words “on land or water” are substituted for “on the surface of the earth (whether on land or water)”, to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (2), the words “ascent, descent, or” and “dropping or” are omitted as surplus.
2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–254, in introductory provisions, struck out “on land or water” before “only when” and inserted “operational” before “control”.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21
cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1999–2025 · leading case: Vreeland v. Ferrer, 71 So. 3d 70 (Fla. 2011).
Vreeland v. Ferrer, 71 So. 3d 70 (Fla. 2011). “Aerolease moved for summary final judgment, contending that a provision of federal law, 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (1994), preempted Florida law.”
Retzler v. Pratt & Whitney Co., 723 N.E.2d 345 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “Finally, summary judgment was granted to defendant AMR Leasing Corporation (AMR) on the grounds that a federal statute, 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (1994), impliedly preempted state claims for personal injury against lessors of aircraft.”
Vreeland v. Ferrer, 28 So. 3d 906 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010). “Aerolease successfully moved for summary judgment on the ground that a provision of the Federal Aviation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 44112 , preempts Florida’s dangerous instrumentality law as it relates to owners or lessors of civil aircraft.”
Eagle Jets, LLC v. Atlanta Jet, Inc., 740 S.E.2d 439 (Ga. Ct. App. 2013). “Citing 49 USC § 44112 (b) (“Alessor, owner, or secured party is liable for personal injury, death, or property loss or damage on land or water only when a civil aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller is in the actual possession or control of the lessor, owner, or secured party.”
Esheva v. Siberia Airlines, 499 F. Supp. 2d 493 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). “" 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (b). Podhurst responds only that this immunity statute will not apply if, as Sibir argues, Russian law governs the claims in this litigation.”
Arthur v. Grimmett, 319 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. App. 2009). “Arthur maintains that the judgment improperly imposes individual liability against her.”
Retzler v. Pratt & Whitney Co., 309 Ill. App. 3d 906 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “Finally, summary judgment was granted to defendant AMR Leasing Corporation (AMR) on the grounds that a federal statute, 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (1994), impliedly preempted state claims for personal injury against lessors of aircraft.”
Escobar v. Eur. Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (D. Haw. 2020). “Question Of “Operational Control” Is A Question Of Fact For The Jury In The First Trial 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (b) provides that a lessor cannot be liable for personal injury or death on an aircraft it owns unless the lessor “is in the actual possession or operational control” of the…”
Blue Air Training Corp. v. Hadley (D.N.M. 2025). “Second, Defendant Jones argues that “Plaintiff’s claims against [him] are federally preempted pursuant to 49 U.S.C.A. § 44112 .” Id. In support of his position, Defendant Jones states the following facts, which Plaintiff does not dispute.”
Violeta Escobar v. Nevada Helicopter Leasing, LLC (9th Cir. 2019). “concluded that Escobar’s state claims were preempted by 49 U.S.C. § 44112 , which at the time limited the liability of an aircraft’s lessors, owners, and secured parties unless the aircraft was “in the actual possession or control of the lessor, owner, or secured party.”
Escobar v. Eur. Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (D. Haw. 2019). “Nevada Leasing seeks to have a trial first on the factual questions identified by the Appellate Court to determine whether Nevada Leasing may be held liable pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 44112 (b). Nevada Leasing argues that the control issue identified by the Ninth Circuit Court of…”
Blue Air Training Corp. v. Hadley (D.N.M. 2025). “As noted in this Court’s earlier Memorandum Opinion and Order, 49 U.S.C. § 44112 shields aircraft owners from liability related to property loss or damage unless they had actual possession or “operational control” of the aircraft.”
Pelegrino v. Aerolineas Damojh, S.A. (N.D. Ill. 2022). “1For the sake of ease, when this court mentions the FAA throughout the remainder of this Opinion it is referring specifically to 49 U.S.C. § 44112 , formerly 49 U.S.C. § 1404 .”
Murphy v. Airway Air Charter, Inc (S.D. Fla. 2024). “For support, Venture observes 49 U.S.C. § 44112 restricts liability for personal injury or death caused by aircraft accidents to owners or lessors who were “in actual possession or control” of the aircraft.”
Rahman v. Gen. Elec. Corp. (D. Conn. 2022). “) On the second factor, Defendant argues that 49 U.S.C. § 44112 , the Lessor Immunity Statute (LIA), controls the Court’s weighing of participation versus safety, reflecting an existing policy choice to limit liability to encourage the accessibility of planes for purchase and…”
Rahman v. Gen. Elec. Corp. (D. Conn. 2022). “pal places of business in Ireland and have no connection to Connecticut or the United States related to the accident or accident aircraft; and (2) Plaintiffs failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted because the Irish Defendants were not in actual possession or…”
Rahman v. Gen. Elec. Corp. (D. Conn. 2022). “) Defendants did not consent to the motions and at oral argument on the motion to dismiss contended that the motions should be denied because, as they viewed the facts, GE Capital Aviation Services, LLC played no role in the underlying cause of action and because these proposed…”
Escobar v. Eur. Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (D. Haw. 2020). “Plaintiff claims that the question regarding the application of the amended language in 49 U.S.C. § 44112 provides a substantial question for a difference of opinion.”
Murphy v. Airway Air Charter, Inc (S.D. Fla. 2025). “Venture moved for summary judgment on the dangerous instrumentality claim and the accompanying loss of consortium claim, contending that 49 U.S.C. § 44112 barred any claim against Venture.”
Khiry Cosey on Behalf of Her Minor Child., Corbin Hilliard & Allyssa Hilliard Individually & on Behalf of the Est. of Reginald Hilliard, Jr; Tiara Liggins on Behalf of Her Minor Child, Takhiree Hilliard Individually & on Behalf of the Est. of Reginald Hilliard, Jr.; Tukeya Jarvis Individually & on Behalf of Thomas Hilliard; & Dorothy Jarvis v. Flight Academy of New Orleans, LLC; Jazz Aviation, LLC; Qbe Ins. Corp.; Christiansen Aviation, Inc.; Abc Ins. Co.; Signature Flight Support Corp.; Allianz Global Corp. & Specialty Se; The Est. of James Biondo; & Def Ins. Co. (La. Ct. App. 2020). “” 5 “Lessor” is defined in the statute as “a person leasing for at least 30 days a civil aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller” and “owner” is defined as “a person that owns a civil aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller.”
Eagle Jets LLC v. Atlanta Jet Inc. (Ga. Ct. App. 2013). “7 We 7 Citing 49 USC § 44112 (b) (“A lessor, owner, or secured party is liable for personal injury, death, or property loss or damage on land or water only when a civil aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller is in the actual possession or control of the lessor, owner, or…”
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