A 33-year-old Canadian man has been accused of impersonating a commercial airline pilot and cabin crew member to obtain hundreds of free flights on United States airlines, in what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated and prolonged fraud scheme.
The man, identified as Dallas Pokornik from Toronto, is facing a wire fraud charge after allegedly exploiting airline staff travel systems over a four-year period. According to US federal prosecutors, he fraudulently secured complimentary or heavily discounted air tickets by falsely presenting himself as an airline pilot employed by a major carrier.
Pokornik, a former flight attendant with Air Canada between 2017 and 2019, has pleaded not guilty following his extradition to the United States. Investigators believe his prior experience in the aviation industry enabled him to navigate airline booking systems and internal verification processes with ease.
Four-year scheme allegedly exploited airline staff systems
Court documents allege that Pokornik repeatedly claimed to be an active commercial pilot and produced a fake Air Canada employee identification card to gain access to airline staff travel benefits. These benefits are typically reserved for verified airline personnel and allow free or significantly reduced fares across partner airlines.
Prosecutors claim that the scheme ran uninterrupted for four years, during which airlines unknowingly issued tickets “at no cost”. The alleged fraud affected at least three US-based airlines, raising broader concerns over aviation security protocols and employee verification systems within the commercial aviation sector.
Such cases are rare but alarming, particularly as airlines continue to rely on interconnected global systems to manage crew travel, staff privileges and jump seat access. Industry observers note that tightening internal security checks may become a priority as airlines recover financially and operationally in a post-pandemic travel environment.
Jet-setting lifestyle raised red flags
Pokornik’s social media activity is said to have contributed to the investigation. Photographs and videos posted on his Facebook account reportedly show him travelling frequently to destinations such as New York, London, Los Angeles, Mexico and Thailand. In one video from September 2022, he was seen boarding a private jet and relaxing with a glass of wine, further fuelling suspicions about how the lifestyle was funded.
His final social media post before arrest placed him in Phuket, Thailand, where he asked followers for recommendations on visiting a floating beach club. Authorities believe these trips were made using fraudulently obtained airline tickets, allowing him to travel extensively without paying standard airfare costs.
Prosecutors also allege that Pokornik made repeated attempts to persuade airline staff to grant him access to cockpit jump seats, which are normally reserved for licensed pilots, inspectors or authorised personnel. According to the US Department of Justice, he does not hold a valid airman’s certificate. It remains unclear whether any of these requests were successful.
Arrest, extradition and potential penalties
Pokornik was arrested in Panama earlier this year before being extradited to the United States. He was subsequently indicted in federal court in Hawaii. A US magistrate judge ordered that he remain in custody, citing concerns that he posed a significant flight risk if released on bail.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to US$250,000, which is approximately S$320,000, and a period of supervised release. Prosecutors have argued that no bail conditions would adequately ensure his appearance in court.
The case has drawn comparisons to the film Catch Me If You Can, which dramatised the exploits of real-life conman Frank Abagnale, who famously impersonated a Pan Am pilot. Beyond its cinematic appeal, the case raises serious questions about airline fraud, identity verification and the vulnerabilities of global aviation systems in an era of rising international travel.