(photo courtesy of Aero Icarus)
From the New Jersey Star-Ledger:
United Airlines confirmed today it has been subpoenaed and is cooperating in an investigation of flights by former Port Authority Chairman David Samson to his home in South Carolina.
The Port Authority received a subpoena last month seeking travel and other records related to Samson, in an investigation prompted by the September 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closures that has expanded in scope, NorthJersey.com reported Thursday evening.
http://www.nj.com/...
and from NorthJersey.com:
The subpoena issued last month appears to be part of a probe into a flight route initiated by United while Samson was chairman of the transportation agency that operates the region’s airports. The route provided non-stop service between Newark and Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina — about 50 miles from a home where Samson often spent weekends with his wife. United halted the non-stop route on April 1 of last year, just three days after Samson resigned under a cloud.
Samson referred to the twice-a-week route — with a flight leaving Newark on Thursday evenings and another returning on Monday mornings — as “the chairman’s flight,” one source said. Federal aviation records show that during the 19 months United offered the non-stop service, the 50-seat planes that flew the route were, on average, only about half full.
United Airlines was in regular negotiations with the Port Authority and the Christie administration during Samson’s tenure over issues that included expansion of the airline’s service to Atlantic City and the extension of the PATH train to Newark Liberty.
http://www.northjersey.com/...
Wowee - this is about as corrupt as it gets - a MAJOR, publicly traded airline company creates a special regular flight solely for the convenience of an official - the chairman of the Port Authority and Christie BFF - whose decisions will greatly affect said airline's bottom line.
What are the chances United will flip on Christie, if Samson doesn't?
h/t aoeu for the heads up on this story.
Update 1:
From David Waldman in the comments:
Fun story!
Much discussed on today's KITM podcast! Starting at around the 22 minute mark, I believe.