Harmony Jets Denies Reports It Has Ceased Operations

European charter operator Harmony Jets is denying media reports that it has gone out of business following a fatal accident in December involving one of its Dassault Falcon 50s. The Malta-based group said it is considering legal action over “certain press articles” that it claims included “inaccurate or exaggerated allegations.”

On Monday, the Blacklist.Aero platform stated that Harmony Jets and its Harmony Aircraft Services subsidiary had “completely ceased operations.” That report alleged that this had happened after France’s DGAC aviation regulator had initiated an audit of the Harmony Aircraft Services maintenance, repair, and overhaul operation at Lyon–Bron Airport (LFLY).

Harmony Jets said it is still in business but has “temporarily suspended” charter operations. It insisted that it does not intend to cease trading and is involved in “ongoing discussions” with authorities, but did not specify which matters these discussions referred to.

“In response to questions raised by inspections conducted at external providers, Harmony Jets wishes to emphasize that it is working closely and transparently with the competent authorities,” the company said in a statement. “The company is doing everything possible to respond quickly and accurately to requests for information to facilitate the work of the oversight bodies.”

France’s BEA accident investigation agency is supporting Libyan officials after Harmony’s Maltese-registered Falcon 50 crashed during a flight from Turkey to Libya on December 23. The accident killed eight people on board, including the chief of staff of the Libyan armed forces.

Harmony’s fleet of Falcon business jets is maintained by its sister company, Harmony Aircraft Services. In June, the Lyon-based company opened a second maintenance facility at Malta International Airport (LMML).