6.—(1) Subject to paragraphs 7(3) and 8(5), where an accident or a serious incident occurs in Singapore —
(a)
no person other than the Chief Inspector, the investigator-in-charge or an authorised person shall have access to the aircraft involved in the accident or serious incident, the contents thereof or the site of the accident or serious incident; and
(b)
no person shall move or interfere with the aircraft, its contents or the site of the accident or serious incident except under the authority of the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge.
(2) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (1) —
(a)
the aircraft involved in an accident or a serious incident may be removed or interfered with to such extent as may be necessary for all or any of the following purposes:
(i)
extricating persons or animals;
(ii)
removing any mail, valuables or dangerous goods carried by the aircraft;
(iii)
preventing destruction by fire or other cause;
(iv)
preventing any danger or obstruction to the public, air navigation or other transport; and
(b)
if the aircraft is wrecked in water, the aircraft or any contents thereof may be removed to such extent as may be necessary for bringing the aircraft or its contents to a place of safety.
(3) Where the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge has authorised any person to remove any goods or passenger baggage from the aircraft or to release any goods or passenger baggage from the custody of the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge, the person may —
(a)
remove the goods or passenger baggage from the aircraft subject to the supervision of a police officer not below the rank of inspector of police; and
(b)
release the goods or passenger baggage from the custody of the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge subject to clearance by or with the consent of an officer of customs, if the aircraft has come from a place outside Singapore.
(4) Where the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge is of the opinion that the aircraft involved in the accident or serious incident is likely to be a danger or obstruction to the public, air navigation or other transport, he may order the owner, operator or hirer of such aircraft to remove the aircraft to such place as the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge shall indicate.
(5) In the absence of the owner, operator or hirer or in the event of non-compliance with the order referred to in sub-paragraph (4), the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge shall be empowered to remove or cause the removal of the aircraft.
(6) The expenses incurred in removing such aircraft shall be —
(a)
borne by the owner, operator or hirer of the aircraft; and
(b)
where the aircraft is removed by the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge under sub-paragraph (5), recoverable from the owner, operator or hirer or all of them.
(7) In this paragraph, “authorised person” means —
(a)
any person authorised by the Chief Inspector or the investigator-in-charge either generally or specifically to have access to any aircraft involved in an accident or a serious incident and includes any police officer or any officer of customs; and
(b)
in relation to an accident involving a military aircraft belonging to the Singapore Armed Forces, includes any person authorised by the Chief of Air Force.