Years later, airport trial pits former colleagues against each other

A bench trial at a federal courthouse in Mississippi began Monday, June 22, with testimony that framed a decade-old dispute over Jackson’s airport governance. The first witness, former airport commissioner James Henley, a certified public accountant and attorney who served on the airport board from 2013 to 2021, said lawmakers did not seek information from airport officials before moving to strip Jackson of control. The case will determine whether Mississippi can transfer control of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport to a new regional authority created by state law. Henley’s testimony included claims about racial disparities in workforce and leadership, and he described efforts to improve aging facilities and pursue economic development after joining the board. The state, represented by attorney Phillip Abernathy of Butler Snow, focused on Senate Bill 2162 and a 2016 strategic plan citing aging infrastructure, staffing concerns, declining passenger traffic, and the need for more air service.