Article 12 Coordination of investigations

When a judicial investigation is also instituted, the investigator-in-charge shall be notified thereof. In such a case, the investigator-in-charge shall ensure traceability and retain custody of flight recorders and any physical evidence. The judicial authority may appoint an official from that authority to accompany the flight recorders or physical evidence to the place of the read-out or treatment. Where examination or analysis of such physical evidence may modify, alter or destroy it, prior agreement from the judicial authorities will be required, without prejudice to national law. Where such agreement is not obtained according to the advance arrangements referred to in paragraph 3 within a reasonable time and not later than 2 weeks following the request, it shall not prevent the investigator-in-charge from conducting the examination or analysis. Where the judicial authority is entitled to seize any evidence, the investigator-in-charge shall have immediate and unlimited access to and use of such evidence.

Where, in the course of the safety investigation, it becomes known or it is suspected that an act of unlawful interference as provided for under national law, such as national law on accident investigations, was involved in the accident or serious incident, the investigator-in-charge shall immediately inform the competent authorities thereof. Subject to Article 14, the relevant information collected in the safety investigation shall be shared with those authorities immediately and upon request, relevant material may also be transferred to those authorities. The sharing of that information and that material shall be without prejudice to the right of the safety investigation authority to continue the safety investigation, in coordination with the authorities to which the control of the site may have been transferred.

Member States shall ensure that safety investigation authorities, on the one hand, and other authorities likely to be involved in the activities related to the safety investigation, such as the judicial, civil aviation, search and rescue authorities, on the other hand, cooperate with each other through advance arrangements.