Miami Air International Ceases Operations
Miami Air International Ceases Operations
Miami Air International, a Miami-based aircraft charter company, announced that it was ceasing operations after 29 years. The charter company’s last day of business was yesterday, May 8. The company flies government and private groups as a charter service. Miami Air filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
According to a report:
In a letter to Miami Air employees, Miami Air CEO Kurt Kamrad informed them that today was their last day of employment, that current employees will be paid until that day, and that medical coverage will continue until the end of the month.
On Monday May 11, company employees will have the opportunity to collect any personal items from the office and show the items to security personnel upon leaving the premises. Employees were also told to bring any company property they may have in their possession on the same day.
According to the company’s website, the airline flew to every continent except Antarctica. And the airline landed at more airfields annually than any other U.S. carrier. Miami Air had a broad base of clientele, including sports team, corporate groups, entertainment industry, and various government departments.
2019 Accident
On May 3, 2019, a Miami Air Flight 293 with 143 people on board slid off of the runway into a shallow river in Jacksonville, Florida. The aircraft was attempting to land at a military base in Jacksonville after departing the U.S. military outpost in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There were no fatalities, but 21 people were injured.
During a court appearance in February, the passengers on board the flight still struggled to get compensation from the airline for negligence. But Miami Air described the accident as an Act of God to a court. One passenger on the plane claimed the plane was flying too high and too fast during landing. The initial investigation reports by the National Transportation Safety Board noted the possible failure of a thruster and the pilot’s request to change runways as initial contributing factors to the accident.
Bankruptcy
On March 24, 2020, Miami Air International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The airline first started operations in 1991. At the time of bankruptcy, the charter service was operating six Boeing 737-800s. Some in the Florida legal community have expressed concern that the passengers from Flight 293 will not be able to hold the company accountable for their injuries.
Bottom Line
Miami Air International ceased operations on May 8 after 29 years in business. The move comes just over a month after the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
