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A high-ranking official is addressing widespread online conjecture following the temporary disappearance of a private jet from public flight-tracking services shortly after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA.
On Sunday, Secretary Sean Duffy provided a comprehensive statement about the Bombardier Challenger 300, which took off from Provo Airport on September 10, just after Kirk was shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. The aircraft, tail number N888KG, is owned by Derek Maxfield, CEO of Komigo. Its flight patterns that day quickly became the subject of speculation after some claimed it had ‘vanished’ from radar.
Duffy clarified that the plane did not disappear in the manner suggested. Instead, he explained that radar services with air traffic control (ATC) were terminated by mutual agreement—a procedure permissible under specific circumstances.
“Radar services are the active tracking and communication managed by air traffic controllers,” Duffy stated. “Private pilots can voluntarily request to cancel radar services, which ATC may approve. However, even if radar services are canceled, the FAA’s radar continues to track aircraft in the air.”
He also emphasized that the jet’s transponder—the device that transmits an aircraft’s identity, altitude, and location—“was never turned off,” confirming that the plane remained visible to federal systems throughout the flight.
“To clarify, there is no discrepancy between the FAA’s statements and those of the plane’s owner,” Duffy noted. “The flight, as confirmed by the transponder, matched our radar tracking and their flight plan.”
Duffy continued, “I want to clear up a few points about the private jet departing Provo Airport shortly after the Charlie Kirk assassination took place.”
According to public records from FlightRadar24, the Challenger 300 departed Provo around 1:11 p.m. local time, less than an hour after Kirk was fatally shot. The flight briefly dropped off civilian tracking systems over Arizona before reappearing at Page Municipal Airport, later returning to Utah that day.
This temporary lapse in tracking led to a surge of online posts speculating that the jet may have facilitated the shooter’s escape or was involved in a broader conspiracy.
Maxfield has publicly denied any connection between his aircraft’s flights and the Kirk shooting, asserting that the trip was pre-scheduled, flown outbound by two pilots without passengers, and only picked him up along with seven others in Page for the return leg.
He further explained that it is standard procedure to cancel radar services when operating between airports without active control towers.
“N888KG pilots adhered to all FAA requirements and protocols, tower instructions, and the predetermined flight plan,” he stated. “Any suggestion that the flights of N888KG yesterday are connected to the tragic shooting of Mr. Kirk is inaccurate, false, and without any credible basis.” Maxfield added that, “To our knowledge, no one associated with yesterday’s flights by N888KG has been contacted by law enforcement for any reason.”
Aviation experts note that temporary lapses in public flight-tracking data are not unusual, especially in remote areas or during transitions between radar coverage zones. Nevertheless, critics online argue that the timing—just minutes after Kirk’s assassination—deserves examination. The jet’s registered address, linked to a prominent Utah businessman, only intensified the speculation.
Duffy acknowledged the public’s interest but urged for patience. “I truly appreciate how many people are dedicated to uncovering the truth,” he stated. “My goal is to be as transparent and helpful as possible throughout this process.”
