If you tamper with an aircraft or any of its parts, or interfere with it without a good reason, you commit an offence. This includes things like smoke detectors on the aircraft. You can be fined up to $10,000 if you are found guilty of this offence, which is outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 2023, similar to a previous law found in s 65H.

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This page was last updated on 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS49784.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal lawTransport and travel > Air travel

395: Disruptive conduct towards crew member, or

"Be respectful to airline crew or you could get in trouble with the law"

397: Intoxicated person on aircraft, or

"No drinking on planes: stay sober when flying"

Part 9Monitoring, investigation, and enforcement
Unruly passenger offences: Unruly passenger offences

396Interference with aircraft

A person who tampers or, without reasonable excuse, interferes with any aircraft, or any component of an aircraft, or its equipment, including, but not limited to, smoke detectors, commits an offence.
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Compare

1990 No 98 s 65H