# Justice Manual § 9-63.135: Negotiated Pleas for Aircraft Piracy Within the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.135

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-63.135
- **Heading:** Negotiated Pleas for Aircraft Piracy Within the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-63.000 - Protection Of Public Order / Justice Manual § 9-63.135

## Text

The Department advocates severe penalties for aircraft hijackers as a deterrent to future acts of piracy. Consequently, United States Attorneys must consult with the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division before dismissing, in whole or in part, an indictment, information, or complaint containing such charges or entering into any agreement to forego an air piracy prosecution under 49 U.S.C. § 46502(a) (formerly 49 U.S.C. App. § 1472(i))(aircraft piracy within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States) in favor of a guilty plea to a lesser offense or decides not to prosecute fully an act of air piracy. See also
JM 9-16.020
(pleas, generally).

[cited in
JM 9-63.181
]

[updated May 2012]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-63.010 Overview](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.100 Aircraft Piracy and Related Offenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.110 Interference with Flight Crew Members and Attendants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.135 Negotiated Pleas for Aircraft Piracy Within the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.135.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.161 Prosecution Policy for Carrying Weapons or Explosives Aboard Aircraft (49 U.S.C. §§ 46314 & 46505)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.161.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.171 Prosecution Policy for False Information (49 U.S.C. &$167 46507(1))](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.171.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.181 Prosecution Policy for Aircraft Piracy Outside the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States (49 U.S.C. § 46502(b))](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.181.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.200 Destruction of Aircraft and Motor Vehicles and Related Offenses (18 U.S.C. § § 31 - 35)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.221 Prosecutive Policy for 18 U.S.C. § 32(b)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.221.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.231 Prosecutive Policy for Threats to Destroy Aircraft](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.231.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.241 Prosecutive Policy for Destruction of Motor Vehicles—18 U.S.C. § 33](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.241.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.251 Prosecutive Policy for Imparting or Conveying False Information (Bomb Hoax)—18 U.S.C. § 35](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.251.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.260 Death Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.260.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-63.500 Firearms Generally](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.500.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.135. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.