On December 10, 2024, news broke of the indictment of Sumanth Rao, Chief Financial Officer of Flair Airlines, on involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a teenager. The incident, which occurred on February 24 of the same year in DeKalb County, Georgia, involved an underage driver, Hannah Hackemeyer, who had been consuming alcohol at Rao’s residence prior to the crash. Rao, his wife, and Hackemeyer were all indicted by a grand jury.
The events leading up to the fatal crash unfolded at the Rao family home, where Rao’s daughter and two friends, including the victim, Sophia Lekiachvili, had gathered for an evening. According to District Attorney Sherry Boston, the teenagers shared a bottle of wine in the kitchen, a scene that was reportedly in plain view of Rao and his wife. Shortly before midnight, the teenagers departed the house in an SUV driven by 18-year-old Hackemeyer.
The vehicle, carrying Rao’s daughter and Lekiachvili as passengers, subsequently crashed on a residential road. Data retrieved from the SUV revealed a shocking disregard for safety, indicating that Hackemeyer was driving at approximately 100 km/h over the posted speed limit and never applied the brakes. While Rao’s daughter and Hackemeyer managed to escape the wreckage, Lekiachvili sustained severe injuries and tragically passed away in the hospital.
The indictment of Rao and his wife centers on their alleged complicity in the events leading up to the accident. By allowing the underage teenagers, including the visibly intoxicated driver, to leave their home in a vehicle, the grand jury determined probable cause to charge them with involuntary manslaughter. This legal action underscores the potential consequences of providing alcohol to minors and knowingly enabling impaired driving, even indirectly.
Flair Airlines, in response to the indictment, issued a statement acknowledging the situation and assuring stakeholders that measures had been implemented to maintain operational continuity during the legal proceedings. Rao, who had only joined the airline in August, now faces a significant legal battle with potentially severe repercussions. This incident tragically highlights the devastating consequences that can arise from irresponsible decisions regarding alcohol and driving, particularly when involving underage individuals.
The case against Rao, his wife, and Hackemeyer serves as a somber reminder of the importance of responsible alcohol consumption and the legal and moral obligations adults bear in preventing underage drinking and driving. The legal process will determine the extent of their culpability in this tragic loss of life. The outcome will not only impact their individual fates but will also send a message about community standards and the consequences of failing to uphold them, especially when such failures result in irreversible tragedy.
