Vision Airlines Faces Theft Charges

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Vision Airlines, which used to serve Northwest Florida Regional Airport, faces criminal charges in Okaloosa County.

State Attorney Bill Eddins and Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley announced Monday that grand theft charges have been filed against the Las Vegas based airline.  Court papers claim Vision collected, but failed to pay the county more than $100,000 in what are called, passenger facility charges or PFCs.

An affidavit filed by Eddins claims Vision Airlines failed to pay PFCs at other airports as well.

Vision Airlines' David Meers responded to the accusation in the following statement.

"The tactics by Okaloosa County are ridiculous but not surprising. Vision Airlines has been in business since 1994 and has always paid our bills. The PFC's are being paid tomorrow [Tuesday, February 19]. The saddest part of the tactics of Okaloosa County is they have failed to follow through on their commitments to Vision. The TDC still owes Vision more than $55,000 and the airport owes more than $400,000 in unpaid incentives. Vision Airlines did exactly what we committed to however, once it was apparent that tourists were coming back to the Gulf coast in record numbers, the airport and the TDC both failed to honor their commitments. Vision Airlines accounted for over $100 million in economic impact following the BP oil spill. This decision by Okaloosa county is nothing short of a collection tactic. Perhaps the same tactics should be used to collect the funds owed to Vision."