Jennifer Lopez, Charlie Sheen and LeBron James were all at risk when they flew on a dangerously unsafe private jet, a pilot has claimed.
Ex-chief-pilot-turned whistleblower, George Thomsen, has accused California’s Crystal Air Aviation of putting flight staff and celebrities in danger by using the aircraft.
According to Mr Thomsen, NBA superstar James could have been killed after a serious fuel leak was spotted on the Gulfstream 4 jet he was due to fly on.
In danger? Jennifer Lopez, left, and Charlie Sheen, right, could have been killed after flying in a mechanically unsafe Gulfstream 4 jet, a pilot has claimed
Risk: The Crystal Air Aviation jet that basketball star LeBron James was travelling in was found to have a major fuel leak, the pilot said
Mr Thomsen left his job at the airline just six weeks after starting at the firm.
He then sent a copy of his resignation letter, which included his findings supported with pictures, to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA has since opened an investigation into the ex-pilot’s claims.
In a copy of the November 23 letter Mr Thomsen wrote that there were ‘major safety issues by allowing the aircraft to fly.’
Dangerous: Ex-chief-pilot-turned whistleblower, George Thomsen, claims Crystal Air Aviation’s Gulfstream N45AC jet was unfit to fly
He went on to write that the airline did not ‘comply with Federal Aviation Requirements’ and how he had found some monthly reports were missing leading him to believe the ‘company continues to operate outside the FAA guide lines’.
In an interview with Star Magazine, Mr Thomsen, a former FAA safety inspector, said he left the company after uncovering worrying problems with everything from the plane’s navigational device to its weather radar and fuel lines.
‘My whole career of 42 years of flying has been about safety,’ he said. ‘These guys for whatever way possible to shortchange training, shortchange maintenance and jeopardise safety. They are jeopardising safety and lives.’
Plush: The jet’s luxurious interior seats 14, has squishy beige leather seats and ample leg room
Luxury: The ‘troubled’ jet also sports a wood-panelled bathroom
In one of the worst incidents that Mr Thomsen described, Miami Heat forward James escaped death after a serious fuel leak was discovered on his plane bound for Ohio from London.
James and his entourage, which included sports agent Tederick Curvy, had been in the UK capital for an appearance at Nike’s School of Basketball.
However, when the GIV N45AC jet, was being refuelled Mr Thomsen discovered a ‘major leak’ that leached potentially explosive liquid under the jet’s right wing.
HAZMAT experts were called to London’s Luton airport and immediately blocked off the area, according to photographs Star has obtained.
Mr Thomsen wrote in his resignation letter: ‘This is not drips. But streams of fuel running over the landing lights and the landing gear. It would be a safety hazard both on takeoff and landing. It could go on to the brakes and could cause a fire. It would blow up.’
Crystal Air allegedly asked Mr Thomsen to fly the jet back to its base to make the repair bill cheaper.
Mr Thomsen said he refused before grounding the plane and making James and other passengers board another flight.
Rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers were on board the plane when it was grounded in another incident after problems with its navigational equipment were discovered during a flight to South America, according to Mr Thomsen.
He claims the airline still flew the band home on the jet.
He also alleges the jet had been flying for more than a year with major instruments circuit breakers detached, no weather radar and problems with other navigational equipment.
Owner of Crystal Air Robert Salvo wrote in an email to Mr Thomsen that there had been ‘misunderstandings on both sides to accurately communicate with each other our mutual visions.’
‘Your challenges with our personnel and aircraft were unfortunate but I feel rectifiable and something that I had hopes your position would resolve,’ he added.
Mr Thomsen told Star Magazine he has since been receiving anonymous threats.
‘I have been getting threatening calls from people ringing up and saying, ‘I’m going to destroy you’ and then hanging up.’
