Nearly a year after the collapse of a steel aircraft hangar under construction in Boise, Idaho, killed three workers, construction has resumed with the original contractor, Big D Builders Inc.
The Meridian, Idaho-based contractor, which is not affiliated with Salt Lake City-based Big-D Construction Corp., is building the 39,000-square-foot, 45.5-foot-tall hangar for the Jackson Jet Center , a private jet charter and maintenance company. The original structure collapsed on January 31, killing workers Mariano Coc Och, 32, and Mario Sontay Tzi, 24, as well as Big-D Construction co-founder Craig Durrant, 59, and injuring seriously eight more.
In June, city officials issued a permit to remove steel and concrete that had been installed but were damaged in the collapse. The hangar was to be rebuilt under the existing building permit, with modifications to the structural plans, records show.
The contractor submitted a plan amendment to the city on January 21, 2025. According to the request, the base plate drawings for the 14 main columns were modified from the approved drawings, which had a 4-in. extend the pattern to the screws, to have a 5 inch pattern. extension pattern, which required the removal of the factory welded baseplates so they could be replaced with the correct bolt spacing. An added X-brace also required two additional bolts.
Big D and other companies involved in the project are currently facing a lawsuit filed by the families of Sontay Tzi and Coc Och. In the lawsuit, the families allege that the plans had been modified without the approval of city officials before the collapse.
It was not immediately clear whether the newly filed plan changes are similar to others that may have been made before the collapse. In response to the lawsuit, the contractor denied most of the allegations. A representative for Big D confirmed that work had resumed, but otherwise declined to comment on the project.
The contractor also faces penalties totaling nearly $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a botched inspector and three serious violations issued after the collapse. OSHA officials said the contractor ignored signs that the structure was unstable and used “irresponsible construction methods.” Big D has contested the appointments, records show.
OSHA also cited Boise-based Inland Crane Inc. in connection with the collapse. This firm has also contested its subpoena.
