The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents) Regulations 1989

Removal of damaged aircraft

7.—(1) Subject to regulation 9 below, where a reportable accident occurs in or over the United Kingdom, no person other than an authorised person shall have access to the aircraft involved in the accident and neither the aircraft nor its contents shall except under the authority of the Secretary of State be removed or otherwise interfered with:

Provided that, subject to the provisions of section 21(4) and (5) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(1)–

(i) the aircraft may be removed or interfered with so far as may be necessary for the purpose of extricating persons or animals, removing any mails, valuables and dangerous goods carried by the aircraft, preventing destruction by fire or other cause, or preventing any danger or obstruction to the public or to air navigation or to other transport, or under the supervision of an Inspector or, with the agreement of an Inspector or of a constable, for the purpose of removing any other property from the aircraft;

(ii) if an aircraft is wrecked on the water, the aircraft or any of its contents may be removed to such extent as may be necessary for bringing it or them to a place of safety.

(2) In this regulation the expression “authorised person” means any person authorised by the Secretary of State either generally or specially to have access to any aircraft involved in an accident and includes any constable or any officer of Customs and Excise.

(1)

1979 c. 2.