Jet Firm Must Pay in Fatal Crash

A charter jet company based in Burbank must pay $10.2 million to families of three people killed in a plane crash in Aspen, Colo., a Los Angeles jury ruled Wednesday.

Burbank-based Avjet Corp. was ordered to pay Lyle and Laurence Witham $4.25 million each for the death of their daughter, 22-year-old Marissa Witham, a news employee at KTTV.

The company must also pay $1.7 million to Aurora Garcia, whose grandsons, Jose and Joseph Aguilar, were killed in the crash.

The jury also found sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to permit the two families to seek punitive damages against Avjet and the heirs of Robert Frisbie, who piloted the plane and also died in the crash on March 29, 2001.

The jurors were to return to court Monday to hear evidence in the punitive phase of the trial.

Representatives of Avjet declined to comment.

The Gulfstream III from Southern California was carrying 15 passengers.

Light snow was falling as the pilot attempted to land. During the trial, plaintiffs’ attorney Brian Panish said two planes ahead of the jet turned around because visibility was bad. “There was a reckless disregard for the safety of passengers,” he said.

Avjet attorney Martin Rose said a cockpit voice recorder showed the flight crew discussed the curfew for landing at the airport after sunset and determined they had enough time.

Even in clear weather, the airport is one of the nation’s most challenging for pilots because of its mountainous setting and the steep descent required.

Avjet admitted responsibility for pilot error. Rose argued that $1 million each for the Withams and $1 million for Garcia were “reasonable” awards.