# Justice Manual § 9-63.231: Prosecutive Policy for Threats to Destroy Aircraft

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-63.231

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-63.231
- **Heading:** Prosecutive Policy for Threats to Destroy Aircraft
- **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 § 9-63.231

## Text

Subsection (c) of Title 18, section 32 prohibits the willful imparting or conveying of threats to do anything to destroy or damage aircraft or aircraft facilities which would violate paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a) or paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b). The threat must be made "with an apparent determination and will to carry the threat into execution."

As with the offense of communicating false information regarding aircraft piracy (See
JM 9-63.171
), if there is no reason to believe that the individual has the motivation or ability to carry out the threat, there is no reason to expend the resources of the Federal government in criminally prosecuting such an individual. If, however, the threat is issued under circumstances where a reasonable person would believe that it would be carried out and the threat involves an action that would likely endanger the safety of the aircraft, such conduct should be prosecuted vigorously.

## 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_S9-63.231. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.