How 'misunderstanding' helped Google execs save millions on jet fuel at cost of taxpayers

A simple 'misunderstanding' apparently helped Google's top bosses Larry Page, Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin save millions on fuel for their fleet of private jets.

The top executives paid between 3.3 and 5.3 million dollars less than the market price for the jet fuel, the local and state taxes which eventually came from the pocket of common taxpayers.

According to Fox News, the fleet of nine planes and helicopters is run by a secretive holding company, H211 and the jets take NASA scientist on an occasional flight, and appear to carry Google's billionaire bosses to Tahiti, Hawaii and a host of private Caribbean hotspots on a regular basis.

However, a report released by NASA's Office of the Inspector General has revealed that Page, Schmidt and Brin purchased fuel for science missions and pleasure rides alike without paying state and local taxes.

NASA Inspector General Paul Martin said that H211 received a significant discount on fuel for its many non-NASA-related flights to which it was not entitled.

He further said that the arrangement did not cause any economic loss to NASA or DLA-Energy, but resulted in considerable savings for H211 and engendered a sense of unfairness and a perception of favoritism toward H211 and its owners.

Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R.-Iowa and a senior member of the Congressional Budget Committee, said that the obvious remedy would be for NASA to seek repayment to the taxpayers, the report added.