After Iverson 's departure , the board hired professional ( non-pilot ) management and advisers . In 1996 , KIWI succeeded to secure a $ 20 million financing package from Recovery Equity Partners , a CA-based private equity fund through the effors of Conexus . At the time Kiwi received the first tranche of the financing package , ValuJet Flight 592 and TWA Flight 800 had accidents in May and July 1996 that caused the death of more than 300 passengers . Following these unrelated accidents , the FAA also increased its surveillance of the airline industry . Because of alleged maintenance documentation issues , Kiwi International was asked to temporarily ground 25 % of its fleet . But the airline was allowed to fly again soon after
TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Kiwi International Air Lines