Exhibit 10(51)

THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This Thirteenth Amendment to that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (“Amendment”) is dated as of August 6, 1999, and is entered into by and between TOWER AIR, INC. (“Borrower”), the financial institutions listed on the signature page hereof (collectively, the “Lenders”) and HELLER FINANCIAL, INC. (in its individual capacity, “Heller”), for itself as a Lender and as Agent (“Agent”).

     WHEREAS, Agent, Lenders and Borrower are parties to a certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 1, 1997 and all amendments thereto (the “Agreement”); and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Agreement as hereinafter set forth.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth in the Agreement and this Amendment, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1.  Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Agreement.

     2.  Amendments. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Agreement is amended as follows:

     (a) The first paragraph of subsection 2.1(A) is amended by deleting the first paragraph of said subsection in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof:

     (A) Revolving Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of Borrower and the other Loan Parties set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, each Lender, severally, agrees to lend to Borrower from time to time, its Pro Rata Share of each Revolving Advance. From and after the Closing Date through the Termination Date, the aggregate amount of all Revolving Loan Commitments shall not exceed the following amounts during the following periods: (i) from and after August 6, 1999, to and including September 2, 1999, Nineteen Million Dollars ($19,000,000); (ii) on and after September 3, 1999, to and including September 9, 1999, Eighteen Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($18,250,000); (iii) on and after September 10, 1999, to and including September 16, 1999, Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($17,500,000); (iv) on and after September 17, 1999, to and including September 23, 1999, Sixteen Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($16,750,000); (v) on and after September 24, 1999, to and including September 29, 1999, Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000); and (vi) on September 30, 1999, Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000), each as reduced by subsection 2.4(B). Amounts borrowed under this subsection 2.1(A) may be repaid and reborrowed at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the termination of the Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to subsection 8.3 or (ii) the Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided herein no Lender shall have any obligation to make an advance under this subsection 2.1(A) to the extent such advance would cause the Revolving Loan (after giving effect to any immediate application of the proceeds thereof) to exceed the Maximum Revolving Loan Amount.

     3.  Conditions. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the following conditions precedent (unless specifically waived in writing by Agent):

     8.  Ratification. The terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment shall modify and supersede all inconsistent terms and provisions of the Agreement, and shall not be deemed to be a consent to the modification or waiver of any other term or condition of the Agreement. Except as expressly modified and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Agreement are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed under seal and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the date first written above.