In 1997, AIA merged with Kitty Hawk Inc. and Conrad Kalitta resigned to start Kalitta Leasing for buying, selling and leasing large aircraft. In April 2000 Kitty Hawk International (the former AIA) ceased operations. Kalitta decided to rescue it and the new airline, Kalitta Air, began operations in November 2000, using the operating certificate and assets of the former airline.
The TV program Mythbusters featured one of Kalitta's Boeing 747s (tail number N700CK) in Episode 90: "Supersized Myths”, that originally aired on November 14, 2007. In this myth the build team revisited the myth of "Jet Taxi", the story of a taxi that got stuck behind a jet taking off resulting in the taxi flipping over due to the jet blast. This myth was found to be confirmed, in that a jet could flip a taxi as well as a school bus and a light aircraft. Mythbusters featured another Kalitta Air 747 in the Episode "Storm Chasing Myths" that originally aired on October 13, 2010.
A Kalitta Air 747 was used to transport prestigious and exotic cars used on the 2014 Gumball 3000 rally from JFK Airport in New York to Prestwick Airport in Glasgow for the European leg of the rally.
N714CK taking off from Schiphol (2006-08-14)N704CK after an incident at Brussels Airport 2008
On August 18, 1993, an American International Airways, Inc. Douglas DC-8-61 (N814CK), with three crew members on board struck level terrain 1,400 feet west of the approach end of the runway while landing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The aircraft approached from the south and was making a right turn for runway 10 with an increasing angle of bank in order to align with the runway. At 200–300 feet AGL the wings started to rock towards wings level and the nose pitched up. The right wing appeared to stall, the aircraft rolled to 90-degree angle of bank and the nose pitched down. Probable cause of the accident attributed primarily to the impaired judgment, decision-making, and flying abilities of the captain and flight crew due to the effects of fatigue resulting from extended flight/duty hours.[10]
On October 20, 2004, a Kalitta Air Boeing 747 (N709CK), with five crew members on board, experienced mechanical difficulties with one of the four engines and diverted to land safely at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. No one was injured. It was discovered after landing that the number 1 engine had separated from the airplane as it climbed through 16,000 feet over Lake Michigan.[11] The engine was later recovered for inspection.
Boeing 747 N704CK at the end of the runway of Brussels Airport in 2008 On May 25, 2008, a Boeing 747-209F/SCD (N704CK serial number 22299/462)[14][15] from the company's fleet overran runway 20 at Brussels Airport. The plane broke in three and came to a complete stop in a field bordering the runway. There were four crew members and one passenger on board, and no injuries were reported.[16][17] The aircraft destined for Bahrain International Airport was loaded with 76 tons of goods, half of which was diplomatic mail.[18] Belgian investigators announced that the accident was caused by the decision to Reject the Take-Off 12 knots after passing V1 speed.[19][20] The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport had investigated the accident.[21]
On July 7, 2008, a Boeing 747-209B (N714CK serial number 22446/519) crashed shortly after departing from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá at 3:55 a.m. The plane was en route to Miami, Florida, with a shipment of flowers. After reporting a fire in one of the engines, the plane attempted the return to the airport but crashed near the village of Madrid, Colombia. The plane's empennage hit a ranch house, killing a 50-year-old man and his 13-year-old son who lived there (a report of this crash on Airdisaster.com indicated a third fatality on the ground). The crew of eight survived with light to serious injuries.[22][23][24]