HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Federal Aviation Administration has accused Houston-based private aircraft and charter company, StarFlite Aviation, of falsifying records and using improperly trained pilots on 170 flights spanning at least five years.

Former commercial airline pilot and aviation expert Richard Levy said the FAA’s accusation against StarFlite Aviation is alarming.

“It’s not usual, and it’s not routine,” Levy said.

The FAA has accused StarFlite Aviation of creating fake training records and conducting at least 170 flights between 2019 and 2024 with pilots who did not have the proper training. The Administration said the company was creating fake entries for check rides and competency checks.

Levy said these are standard checks and balances in which an FAA official rides along with a pilot to make sure they adhere to safety guidelines.

“We want to be sure that when the public is flying with them, that the routine flight is conducted in a safe manner, and if they have not been evaluated and had a competency check, the report said or check rides, then we don’t know how good their skills are. That’s not any way to run an airline,” Levy said.

Levy said the FAA most likely became aware of the alleged falsified reports in one of two ways: through a routine check or through a whistleblower. ABC13 asked the FAA how they became aware of the accusation, but we were told to file an open records request.

Following the accusation, the FAA has revoked the air carriers’ certificate of operation, saying the company has a “disregard for the safety of the flying public.”

Levy said having improperly trained pilots flying in airspace shared by the wider public could spell serious legal trouble.

“If you had a mid-air collision, if they are not following the rules and regulations and they got too close to you, even on the ground…or didn’t follow instructions from air traffic control due to their lack of proficiency, that can be a problem,” Levy said.

The FAA said StarFlite can appeal the decision.

ABC13 made multiple attempts to contact StarFlite. Calls and emails went unanswered. At one of the owners’ homes, they said they did not want to speak with ABC13.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.