Article 3

For the purposes of this Convention, an aircraft is considered to be in service from the beginning of the pre-flight preparation of the aircraft by ground personnel or by the crew for a specific flight until twenty-four hours after any landing. In the case of a forced landing, the flight shall be deemed to continue until the competent authorities take over the responsibility for the aircraft and for persons and property on board.

This Convention shall not apply to aircraft used in military, customs or police services.

This Convention shall apply only if the place of take-off or the place of actual landing of the aircraft on board which the offence is committed is situated outside the territory of the State of registry of that aircraft; it shall be immaterial whether the aircraft is engaged in an international or domestic flight.

In the cases set forth in Article 5, this Convention shall not apply if the place of take-off and the place of actual landing of the aircraft on board which the offence is committed are situated within the territory of the same State where that State is one of those referred to in that Article.

Notwithstanding paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article, Articles 6, 7, 7 bis, 8, 8 bis, 8 ter and 10 shall apply whatever the place of take-off or the place of actual landing of the aircraft, if the offender or the alleged offender is found in the territory of a State other than the State of registry of that aircraft.