NBC Sports Executive Questions U.S. Charter Flight Oversight in Lawsuit

By Thomas Hall

Published on January 24, 2007

The couple’s 14-year-old son Teddy was killed in the 2004 crash of a charter plane departing from Montrose, Colorado.

Not all charter operations are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Those that aren't certified are not required to train flight crews in the same manner as those that are certified. Which flights are and are not FAA-certified is not always obvious to travelers.

Ebersol says his family was not told that Key Air Inc., the operator of the charter flight that killed his son, had hired Air Castle of Millville, New Jersey, to take over the flight. Ebersol’s lawsuit alleges the Air Castle pilots were unqualified to fly in the type of weather present during the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report last May stating that the pilot’s failure to examine icing on the wings was the probable cause of the crash.

Brad Kost, president and CEO of Key Air, says Air Castle had a good reputation and the crew had been certified by regulators.

According to National Business Aviation Association vice president Doug Carr, charter flights aren't necessarily more dangerous; however, some charter companies use planes that are more vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and elevated altitudes.