Hop-A-Jet President Reflects on 2024 Crash After NTSB Findings

Company has made changes to training and procedures amid pursuit of claims against GE Aerospace.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, May 01, 2026 at 02:04 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The Hop-A-Jet Challenger 604 involved in the 2024 crash. [Credit: Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Charter]

Key Takeaways:

The 2024 Hop-A-Jet crash, which resulted in the deaths of the pilot and copilot, was caused by extensive corrosion in the GE CF34-3B engines' variable geometry system, leading to dual engine failure.
In response to the NTSB's findings, GE has implemented enhanced inspection procedures, the FAA is proposing an Airworthiness Directive to mandate these changes, and Hop-A-Jet has updated crew training for engine start anomalies and emergency egress.
Hop-A-Jet has filed a lawsuit against GE Aerospace, alleging that the engine manufacturer was aware of the inherent defect causing the corrosion and attempted to conceal this information.

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The only good thing that can come out of an aviation accident is the information learned through a subsequent investigation, which can be used to make aviation safer.

That’s the attitude of Barry Ellis, president of Hop-A-Jet, in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the 2024 crash of a company jet in Florida. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident to be corrosion found in the engines.