World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
60 former flight-school students sue Mette-Marit’s brother
Sixty former students are suing Espen Høiby, the brother of Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit, and the flight school’s former manager.
The case concerns the Pilot Flight Academy, which went bankrupt after operating at Torp Airport in Sandefjord, Norway.
About 160 trainee pilots lost their places, and many had paid around 250,000 Norwegian kroner in fees in advance.
The students, backed by the Parat union, say they should get compensation, but the amount they are seeking is not known.
Høiby’s lawyer says he had no board position and denies there is a basis for suing him.
The bankruptcy administrator said the school should have filed earlier and raised concerns that information about its finances was withheld.
It remains unclear whether police will investigate, and the lawsuit will address the students’ claims.
Sixty former students of the bankrupt Pilot Flight Academy are suing co-owner Espen Høiby and the school’s former managing director.
The students say they want compensation after losing fees paid in advance for pilot training.
The school, at Torp Airport in Sandefjord, went bankrupt shortly after the start of 2026.
Høiby’s lawyer says there is no basis for suing him and says he never held a board position at the academy.
A bankruptcy administrator said the company should have filed for bankruptcy earlier, and reported concerns about information being withheld; whether police will investigate remains undecided.
- Who
- Sixty former students are suing Espen Høiby and former managing director Per Mikael Eriksson.
- What
- They are seeking compensation after the flight school’s bankruptcy left them without training and without fees they had paid in advance.
- When
- The school went bankrupt shortly after the start of 2026; the lawsuit was reported on October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Pilot Flight Academy at Torp Airport in Sandefjord, Norway.
- Why
- The students allege that those responsible, among other things, filed for bankruptcy too late. Høiby’s lawyer rejects the claim against him.
Former students backed by Parat
Espen Høiby and Per Mikael Eriksson, represented by lawyer Kristoffer Aasebø
Responsibility
Former students backed by Parat
The students’ side says Høiby was the person who actually made decisions; Parat also alleges failures including a late bankruptcy filing.
Espen Høiby and Per Mikael Eriksson, represented by lawyer Kristoffer Aasebø
Aasebø says Høiby had no board position and did not represent the academy to students; he says there is no basis for suing him.
Reliance on information
Former students backed by Parat
The students seek compensation after losing fees paid in advance and allege wrongdoing by those responsible for the academy.
Espen Høiby and Per Mikael Eriksson, represented by lawyer Kristoffer Aasebø
Aasebø says Eriksson relied on information from management and promises by the owners to provide more capital.
According to BILD, Høiby’s company AAP Aviation took a majority stake in the flight school.
Pilot Flight Academy was declared bankrupt, according to BILD.
Bankruptcy administrator Kåre Jølberg said the company should have filed for bankruptcy much earlier.
Reports said 60 former students had sued Høiby and former managing director Per Mikael Eriksson.
- Students suing
- 60 former students
- Flight school
- Pilot Flight Academy
- Location
- Torp Airport, Sandefjord, Norway
- Fees paid in advance
- Around 250,000 Norwegian kroner, according to T-Online and FOCUS online
- Defendants
- Espen Høiby and Per Mikael Eriksson
- Police decision
- Whether to investigate remains undecided
3 sources
What people are saying
As far as we know, he is the one who actually made the decisions.
We are convinced that there is no basis for suing Espen Høiby in this case.
The company should have filed for bankruptcy much earlier.