Luxury Jet Firm OneFlight Faces Lawsuits Amid Allegations of Fraudulent Practices
Customers who prepaid for private jet services are suing the Colorado-based company, alleging it operated as a Ponzi scheme before ceasing operations.
OneFlight International, a luxury aviation firm that once boasted celebrity endorsements, is now facing multiple lawsuits from customers alleging fraudulent business practices and seeking the return of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepaid flight hours. The Colorado-based company has reportedly ceased operations, leaving clients fighting to recover their funds.
One of the lawsuits, filed in Colorado on September 20 by California customer Jeremy Ricks, alleges that OneFlight's operations were "consistent with the operation of a Ponzi scheme," where funds from new customers were allegedly used to cover obligations to earlier clients. Ricks claims he deposited $780,000 with the company between May 2025 and June 2026. After using approximately $200,000 for flights, he seeks to recover the remaining $580,461.42.
The federal lawsuit names OneFlight, CEO Ferren Rajput, executive vice president of sales Mark Dismuke, and sales executive John Crandall as defendants. The suit does not name celebrity endorsers or ambassadors, nor does it allege their participation in the company's alleged misconduct.
Ricks alleges that OneFlight's executives used the company's high-profile image, including major sports sponsorships and celebrity ambassadors, to reassure him about its financial stability. He states that he was repeatedly assured of the company's financial soundness and the safety of his prepaid funds. Incentives were allegedly offered to encourage larger deposits, leading Ricks to increase his initial $100,000 deposit in May 2025 to a total of $780,000 by June 2026.
According to the complaint, OneFlight continued to offer promotions, including a discount on flight hours, even after Ricks was told these offers were limited. The lawsuit contends that the company was using customer deposits to meet existing obligations while continuing significant spending on marketing and sponsorships.
Among these was a partnership with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, announced in January, which placed OneFlight branding on team cars and driver suits. This sponsorship is alleged to have been part of an effort to project financial strength. McLaren has since suspended its relationship with OneFlight.
Previously, OneFlight reported substantial growth, announcing $232 million in revenue for 2025, a 90 percent increase from the previous year, with flight hours rising to 16,522. However, this positive financial picture was followed by an announcement on September 16 that OneFlight was pausing all flight activity for at least 30 days to review its operations and financial position.
Separate litigation includes a case brought by Florida couple Kamran and Sharri Jinnah, who are seeking over $815,000 in prepaid funds. Another case involves a customer who allegedly was encouraged to deposit an additional $250,000 shortly before flights were suspended.
Employees have also faced uncertainty, with reports of missed payroll payments and the impending end of medical coverage on September 30. OneFlight has not publicly responded to the allegations in the lawsuits, and none of the claims have been proven in court.