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Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§44944 Voluntary provision of emergency services

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iii— - safety › Chapter CHAPTER 449— - SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL › § 44944

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

TSA must set up a program that lets qualified police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians volunteer to help during emergencies on commercial flights. TSA will decide what training and qualifications are needed. If people can sign up, any list must be kept private and shown only to airline staff. TSA must work with the FAA, airlines, and groups for community law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs. If someone meets TSA’s qualifications, they cannot be held liable for damages in federal or state court for acts or failures while helping in an in‑flight emergency. That protection does not apply if the person’s actions were grossly negligent or done on purpose to cause harm.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §44944

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall carry out a program to permit qualified law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians to provide emergency services on commercial air flights during emergencies.
(2)The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall establish such requirements for qualifications of providers of voluntary services under the program under paragraph (1), including training requirements, as the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration considers appropriate.
(3)If as part of the program under paragraph (1) the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration requires or permits registration of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical technicians who are willing to provide emergency services on commercial flights during emergencies, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall take appropriate actions to ensure that the registry is available only to appropriate airline personnel and otherwise remains confidential.
(4)The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall consult with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, appropriate representatives of the commercial airline industry, and organizations representing community-based law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, in carrying out the program under paragraph (1), including the actions taken under paragraph (3).
(b)An individual shall not be liable for damages in any action brought in a Federal or State court that arises from an act or omission of the individual in providing or attempting to provide assistance in the case of an in-flight emergency in an aircraft of an air carrier if the individual meets such qualifications as the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall prescribe for purposes of this section.
(c)The exemption under subsection (b) shall not apply in any case in which an individual provides, or attempts to provide, assistance described in that paragraph in a manner that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(d)(35)(B), substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration” for “Under Secretary” wherever appearing. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(d)(35)(A)(i), substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration” for “Under Secretary of Transportation for Transportation Security”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(d)(35)(A)(ii), inserted “the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration,” after “consult with”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Construction

Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 131(c), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 635, provided that: “Nothing in this section [enacting this section] may be construed to require any modification of

Regulations

of the Department of Transportation governing the possession of firearms while in aircraft or air transportation facilities or to authorize the possession of a firearm in an aircraft or any such facility not authorized under those

Regulations

.” [For definitions of “aircraft” and “air transportation” used in section 131(c) of Pub. L. 107–71, set out above, see section 133 of Pub. L. 107–71, set out as a note under section 40102 of this title.]

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 44944

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73