OneFlight suit names Shark Tank's Herjavec over jet card deposits

A federal lawsuit filed Oct. 22 over OneFlight International’s operational pause is the first reported to name spokesperson Robert Herjavec, a panelist on the long-running television show Shark Tank, alongside CEO Ferren Rajput and two sales executives. The complaint describes Herjavec as an official brand ambassador and equity partner. The allegations against OneFlight include marketing claims and sales representations that induced a customer to make a deposit just before operations were suspended. These allegations are a part of a civil complaint and have not been proven in court. Robert Herjavec \ By Philip Romano – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, LinkOneFlight International, the Englewood, Colorado-based charter broker known for its BAJit jet card and celebrity marketing, suspended all flight activity on September 16, telling customers the halt would run “for the next 30 days, or until further notice” while it evaluates its operations. In August, the company told jet card holders they’d face a 35% “economic surcharge,” citing “extraordinary economic pressures currently affecting private aviation,” a move it reversed the same day after hearing customer feedback. Multiple charter operators claimed OneFlight owed them hundreds of thousands of dollars, with one reporting $250,000 outstanding for a trip it flew, according to Forbes, though others said they had been paid. OneFlight reported $232 million in revenue for 2025, up 90% year over year. Plaintiff Mark Heimbouch filed suit against OneFlight International, its affiliated entities, CEO Ferren Rajput, sales executives Mark Dismuke and Mark Sanchez, and spokesperson Robert Herjavec. The complaint alleges fraud, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, conversion, civil theft, and other claims tied to prepaid jet-card deposits. The complaint alleges that between Sept. 11 and Sept. 15, company representatives described OneFlight as “cash flow positive,” “doing great,” and experiencing “tremendous growth” while encouraging additional deposits. The plaintiff alleges he relied on those representations when wiring $95,000 on Sept. 15. Those allegations have not been proven. He is seeking damages tied to the $741,456 in deposits he wired to the company beginning in 2024. The complaint highlights one of the central risks in prepaid private aviation products: customers often commit substantial sums months or years before services are delivered. The practical question for jet-card buyers is how they evaluate financial stability before sending large deposits to a provider. The complaint repeatedly references sales assurances, marketing, endorsements and public statements as factors influencing Heimbouch’s decisions. Why It Matters The lawsuit provides a detailed account of how one customer says he was persuaded to continue funding a jet-card account shortly before OneFlight suspended operations. The filing also expands the scope of potential responsibility by naming a prominent spokesman alongside company executives. For jet-card buyers, the case underscores the importance of understanding how customer funds are handled, what protections exist, and what information is available when evaluating a provider’s financial health.