Engineering:Lolita Express
| Lolita Express | |
|---|---|
Pictured Boeing 727, an aircraft similar to the one Jeffrey Epstein owned | |
| General information | |
| Type | Boeing 727-100 |
| Management | 1969–1979 TWA 2001–2016 JEGE, Inc. (Jeffrey Epstein)[1] |
| Registration | N908JE |
| History | |
| First flight | June 25, 1969 (with TWA)[1] |
| Last flight | September 17, 2024 – September 30, 2031, per FAA Registration date.[2] |
| Fate | Sold and scrapped[2][3] |
The "Lolita Express" is the nickname used in the media for a Boeing 727-100 aircraft that was owned by Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein traveled in the airplane frequently, logging "600 flying hours a year ... usually with guests on board".[4] Epstein sold the aircraft in 2017.[3] The aircraft was registered N908JE and owned by JEGE, Inc.[5][1]
The media nickname derives from Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel about a man's obsession with and victimization of a 12-year-old girl, Lolita.[6]
As of 2026[update], the jet has spent a decade in storage at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Georgia.[7]
Aircraft
Boeing 727-100 (registration N908JE, serial number 20115) was a VIP-configured aircraft featuring a 29-passenger interior. As of late 2007, the airframe had logged 33,555 flight hours and 22,282 cycles. The aircraft underwent a performance upgrade via a engine conversion, utilizing two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines in the outboard positions and a JT8D-7B in the center. It was further modified with Winglet Systems Inc. winglets, RVSM approval, and long-range fuel tanks, bringing its maximum takeoff weight to 174,500 lbs.[8][9]
The custom "Exogrid" modular interior included a forward salon with a home theater, a mid-cabin lounge and galley, and a private aft stateroom equipped with a queen-size bed and an en-suite lavatory featuring a European-style shower. Technical upgrades included a Honeywell EFIS flight deck, TCAS II, and dual Universal GPS/FMS systems. The aircraft was maintained under an MSG-3 program.[8][9]
The airplane had a Bloomberg Terminal installed so Epstein could work while onboard.[citation needed]
Notable guests and flights
In September 2002, Epstein flew Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, and Chris Tucker to Africa in this jet.[10][11][12] Flight records obtained in 2016 show Clinton flew 27 times on the same jet to at least a dozen international locations.[13] Flight logs do not list any Secret Service detail for at least five flights on a 2002 trip to Asia,[13] and the Secret Service has stated that there is no evidence of the former president making a trip to Epstein's private island.[13] In 2019, a Clinton spokesperson stated that, in 2002 and 2003, Clinton took four trips on Epstein's airplane, making stops on three continents, all with his staff and Secret Service detail.[14] At the time of Epstein's 2019 arrest, Clinton's spokeswoman Angel Ureña stated that Clinton had "not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little Saint James, Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida".[15][16]
In 2009, Epstein's brother Mark Epstein claimed Donald Trump had flown on the plane at least once. He later told The Washington Post that Trump flew "numerous times" on Epstein's airplane, although Mark was present on only one of the flights.[17][18][19] According to Michael Corcoran, Trump flew Epstein on his own airplane at least once.[20] In a conversation with author Michael Wolff recorded in 2017, Epstein claimed that Trump and his third wife Melania Trump had sexual intercourse for the first time onboard the aircraft.[21] Nadia Marcinko was a regular traveller with Epstein on the aircraft.[22]
In 2011, The Daily Telegraph reported that the plane had once landed at the Royal Air Force station, RAF Marham.[23] It has been alleged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor "pulled strings" so that Epstein could use the RAF base.[24]
Former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana Arango has said that, in 2003, he flew to Cuba with Epstein aboard his plane at the invitation of Cuban president Fidel Castro.[25]
Other notable passengers who travelled on the aircraft included businessman Ron Burkle, model Naomi Campbell, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and the former United States Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers.[26][27][28][29] Epstein sold the aircraft in 2017 and it was subsequently scrapped.[3]
Epstein also owned a Gulfstream G550 jet,[3] a twin-engine Cessna 421 and a private helicopter.[citation needed]
Allegations of sex crimes on board
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre alleged being raped on the plane by Alan Dershowitz, which Dershowitz denied as an "outrageous lie".[30] Giuffre later retracted her allegations against Dershowitz in 2022.[31]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "N908JE – JEGE Inc (727-031)" (in en). https://www.planelogger.com/aircraft/Registration/N908JE/497756.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "N908JE" (in en). https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=908JE.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tait, Robert (August 13, 2024). "Donald Trump used Jeffrey Epstein's former jet for campaign appearances". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/13/trump-jeffrey-epstein-plane.
- ↑ Sisak, Michael R.; Tucker, Eric; Richer, Alanna Durkin (Dec 2025). "Justice Department releases limited set of files tied to Epstein sex trafficking investigation". Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/f919d9dc9c3957cb2bd2c9c1a14b533c.
- ↑ Trotter, J. K. (Jul 13, 2019). "Flight data from Jeffrey Epstein’s private jets show a lavish travel schedule as the walls closed in" (in en-US). https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epsteins-private-jet-flight-data-2019-7.
- ↑ Isaacs, Lily (14 February 2026). "Reading Lolita on Epstein Island". New Statesman. https://magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/02/14/reading-lolita-on-epstein-island/content.html.
- ↑ Van Brimmer, Adam (March 11, 2026). "Why is Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’ jet parked on Georgia’s coast?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/03/why-is-jeffrey-epsteins-lolita-express-jet-parked-on-georgias-coast/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Boeing 727-100 Jet Aircraft For Sale At Controller.com". http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/BOEING-727-100/BOEING-727-100/1125132.htm.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "N908JE | BOEING 727 100 on Aircraft.com" (in en-US). https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/200822861/n908je-boeing-727-100.
- ↑ Thomas, Landon Jr. (October 28, 2002). "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery". New York. https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
- ↑ "Jeffrey Epstein, friend of presidents and princes, charged with sex trafficking". France24. July 8, 2019. https://www.france24.com/en/20190708-usa-court-documents-jeffrey-epstein-expose-sex-crimes.
- ↑ Grierson, Jamie (December 16, 2025). "Nearly 90 flights linked to Epstein 'came to or from UK airports'". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/16/flights-linked-epstein-arrived-departed-uk-airports.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Zimmerman, Malia (May 13, 2016). "Flight logs show Bill Clinton flew on sex offender's jet much more than previously known.". Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/flight-logs-show-bill-clinton-flew-on-sex-offenders-jet-much-more-than-previously-known. "26 trips aboard the "Lolita Express" – even apparently ditching his Secret Service detail for at least five of the flights."
- ↑ Colvin, Jill (July 9, 2019). "What did Jeffrey Epstein's famous friends know and see?". Associated Press. https://apnews.com/3d0490c6774048dc8a5f4fe80d0cf71f.
- ↑ Morin, Rebecca (July 10, 2019). "Spokesman: Bill Clinton 'knows nothing' about 'terrible crimes' alleged against Epstein". https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/08/bill-clinton-knows-nothing-jeffrey-epsteins-alleged-crimes/1679345001/.
- ↑ Farrell, Greg (July 9, 2019). "If You Flew Epstein's 'Lolita Express' Private Jet—the Feds Want to Talk to You". https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-08/if-you-flew-the-lolita-express-the-feds-want-to-talk-to-you.
- ↑ Reinhard, Beth; Helderman, Rosalind S.; Fisher, Marc (July 31, 2019). "Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein partied together. Then an oceanfront Palm Beach mansion came between them.". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-and-jeffrey-epstein-partied-together-then-an-oceanfront-palm-beach-mansion-came-between-them/2019/07/31/79f1d98c-aca0-11e9-a0c9-6d2d7818f3da_story.html.
- ↑ Fahrenthold, David A.; Reinhard, Beth; Kindy, Kimberly (July 8, 2019). "Trump called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who enjoyed 'younger' women before denying relationship with him". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html?. ""Epstein's brother, Mark, recalled in 2009 that Trump had flown on Epstein's plane at least once""
- ↑ Heath, Brad; Cowan, Richard; Acharya, Bhargav (December 23, 2025). "Trump flew on Epstein jet eight times in the 1990s, according to prosecutor email". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-department-releases-new-tranche-epstein-files-2025-12-23/.
- ↑ Walsh, James D. (July 15, 2019). "Remembering the Time Jeffrey Epstein Rode on Donald Trump's Plane". New York. http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/remembering-the-time-jeffrey-epstein-rode-on-trumps-plane.html.
- ↑ Dougherty, Hugh (January 2, 2024). "Donald Trump Flights on Jeffrey Epstein's 'Lolita Express'—What We Know". The Guardian. https://www.thedailybeast.com/listen-to-the-jeffrey-epstein-tapes-i-was-donald-trumps-closest-friend/.
- ↑ Heffernan, Virginia (July 23, 2019). "The Twisted Flight Paths of 'Global Girl' and the Lolita Express". Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/global-girl-jeffrey-epstein-and-the-lolita-express/. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ↑ "Epstein angered by Telegraph report exposing flights to RAF bases". 4 February 2026. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/04/jeffrey-epstein-telegraph-report-exposing-flights-raf-bases/.
- ↑ "Andrew pulled strings so Epstein could use RAF bases for private jet". 1 February 2026. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/01/andrew-pulled-strings-so-epstein-could-use-raf-bases/.
- ↑ Santiago, Fabiola (August 16, 2019). "A match made in hell: Epstein, Fidel Castro, and the Lolita Express that flew to Cuba". Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/fabiola-santiago/article234027867.html.
- ↑ Einbinder, Nicole. "From Bill Clinton to Naomi Campbell: Here are some of the famous people who have flown on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane, which has been dubbed the 'Lolita Express'" (in en-US). https://www.businessinsider.com/famous-people-flown-jeffrey-epsteins-private-plane-lolita-express-2019-7.
- ↑ Bryant, Nick (January 22, 2015). "Flight Logs Put Clinton, Dershowitz on Pedophile Billionaire's Sex Jet" (in en). https://www.gawkerarchives.com/flight-logs-put-clinton-dershowitz-on-pedophile-billio-1681039971.
- ↑ Whalen, Andrew (July 9, 2019). "What Is Jeffrey Epstein's Lolita Express?" (in en). https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-lolita-express-bill-clinton-flight-logs-1448367.
- ↑ J425. "UPDATED: Epstein Client List: View and Download Jeffrey Epstein's Black Book + 2019 Federal Court Discovery File (new) + Lolita Express Flight Logs (Authenticated by FBI Affidavit)" (in en). https://www.thejournal425.com/p/epstein-client-list-view-and-download.
- ↑ Lodi, Marie (July 19, 2019). "What We Know About Jeffrey Epstein's Private Jet, the 'Lolita Express'". The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/2019/07/jeffrey-epstein-lolita-express.html.
- ↑ Scannell, Kara (November 8, 2022). "Virginia Giuffre drops allegations against Alan Dershowitz, saying she 'may have made a mistake'". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/08/us/alan-dershowitz-virginia-giuffre-allegations-dropped.
External links
- Epstein flight manifests, https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/1507315-epstein-flight-manifests/
Template:Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal Template:Lolita
