Fourth OneFlight lawsuit alleges Ponzi-like scheme, targets CEO Rajput's other entities

A fourth lawsuit against OneFlight International, which grounded flights on September 16, 2026, alleges the operator ran a Ponzi-like scheme by absorbing customer prepaid funds into operating capital rather than holding them in escrow, according to Private Jet Card Comparisons.

Davin M. Pokoik filed the suit, naming OneFlight Jets, Inc., BALCC Holdings, LLC, and OneFlight International, Inc., in addition to founder and Chief Executive Ferren Rajput. Pokoik claims the pattern of conduct across the named entities was designed to allow Rajput to shield OneFlight's assets from customers.

Pokoik paid OneFlight $465,000 in membership fees and prepaid flights between joining and his final payment of $200,000 in July 2026. He currently holds $100,244.68 in cash deposits and $427,333.44 in flight credits.

Pattern of sales to customers with large balances

The lawsuit shows a similar pattern to three prior suits filed against OneFlight: the operator sold additional flight hours to existing customers who already had substantial account balances, Private Jet Card Comparisons reports.

Analysis of sales data from earlier in 2026 obtained by Private Jet Card Comparisons shows that in one four-week span, 58 per cent of 124 deals included complimentary flight credits.

Pokoik's legal team argues that OneFlight "at Rajput's direction, absorbed Pokoik's and other customers' cash into its operating capital as part of a Ponzi-like scheme and now lacks the liquidity to compensate its customers for their estimated $150 million in deposits". The lawsuit states that two months before the shutdown, OneFlight induced Pokoik to deposit an additional $200,000 through a "limited offer" requiring payment within two days, while concealing that it was unable to pay the direct air carriers operating customers' flights.

Pokoik is the second customer to allege a Ponzi-type scheme in lawsuits against OneFlight.

Prepaid losses and relief sought

Private Jet Card Comparisons reported that prepaid customer losses could exceed $300 million, rather than the originally reported $150 million.

Pokoik's lawsuit seeks treble damages — three times the amount of actual damages — if the court finds clear and convincing evidence of the defendants' bad faith conduct. The complaint does not name Jetstyle Concierge, Inc., another company affiliated with OneFlight.