Texas Court Rules in Saturn Aviation vs. BMH Air Dispute
A Texas appeals court has issued a partial ruling in a long-running legal dispute between charter firms Saturn Aviation and BMH Air, alongside its affiliate Evolution Jets (formerly Maximum Flight Advantages), stemming from a 2017 charter flight arranged for actor Bruce Willis.
The conflict began after the auxiliary power unit (APU) of a Legacy 600, then registered as N994PF, failed before a scheduled flight from Ohio to New York. Though the issue was resolved and the flight completed, it triggered an eight-year battle over aircraft airworthiness, leasing terms, and maintenance responsibilities.
BMH Air had leased the aircraft to MFA, which subleased it to Saturn Aviation. Evolution Jets later assumed MFA’s rights and sued Saturn for breach of contract and related claims.
In December 2022, a Texas trial court awarded BMH Air and Evolution Jets over USD1 million in damages and legal fees. Saturn appealed, claiming the agreements were improperly applied.
On July 2, 2025, the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals upheld most of the lower court’s decision. Saturn Aviation was ordered to pay BMH Air USD954,973 in actual damages for inspection and repair costs, and Evolution Jets was awarded a USD60,000 deposit refund.
However, the appeals court reversed USD197,400 in damages previously granted for replacement aircraft expenses and vacated USD18,596 in incidental costs. The case was remanded for recalculation of damages.
Judge Lori Massey Brissette concluded the ruling with a nod to Willis’ iconic Die Hard character, saying, “Today we put this dispute to rest.”
The affected aircraft, N529GB, is now listed under Wing Aviation’s Part 135 certificate.
Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com