A former flight attendant posed as a pilot and received hundreds of free flights, US authorities say

Canadian Man Arrested for Posing as Pilot to Secure Hundreds of Free Flights

A 33-year-old Toronto man has been arrested after allegedly masquerading as a commercial pilot and flight attendant to fraudulently obtain hundreds of free flights on major U.S. airlines over a four-year period.

Dallas Pokornik, a former flight attendant for a Canadian carrier, was apprehended in Panama and extradited to the United States following his indictment on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. He pleaded not guilty during his Tuesday court appearance.

According to federal prosecutors, Pokornik worked legitimately as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline from 2017 to 2019. Following the end of his employment, he allegedly created counterfeit employee identification from that carrier, which he then used to secure complimentary tickets on at least three other airlines.

These tickets were specifically reserved for airline industry personnel through interline agreements, a long-standing industry practice that allows employees of one airline to travel on another carrier at heavily discounted rates or for free. Such arrangements are designed to foster goodwill within the aviation industry and are considered a standard employment benefit.

In a particularly concerning development, prosecutors allege Pokornik went so far as to request seating in the cockpit jump seat, a position typically reserved exclusively for off-duty pilots or aviation officials conducting oversight operations. The jump seat provides an additional seating position in the cockpit, often used for pilot training, observation flights, or deadheading crew members.

U.S. authorities have not confirmed whether Pokornik successfully gained access to any aircraft cockpits during his alleged scheme, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to provide further clarification on this point.

Though not named directly in the indictment, the affected airlines were described as being based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas – the headquarters locations for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines, respectively. Representatives from these carriers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Similarly, Air Canada, which matches the description of Pokornik’s former employer as a Toronto-based airline, has not issued any statement regarding the case.

Following Tuesday’s court appearance, a U.S. magistrate judge ordered Pokornik to remain in custody pending further proceedings. His federal public defender declined to comment on the allegations.

The case has drawn comparisons to the infamous story of Frank Abagnale Jr., whose fraudulent exploits as a fake pilot were dramatized in the 2002 Steven Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Abagnale similarly used false credentials to secure free flights and perpetrate various frauds before his eventual capture.

This incident follows another troubling aviation security breach in 2023, when off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson attempted to disable an aircraft’s engines during a Horizon Air flight. Emerson, who later attributed his actions to depression, was sentenced to time served last November.

Aviation security experts note that incidents like these highlight potential vulnerabilities in airline identification verification systems, particularly in how carriers validate credentials from partner airlines. The industry typically relies on standardized ID formats and verification procedures, though specific protocols vary between airlines.

The allegations against Pokornik raise serious questions about security procedures within the airline industry, particularly regarding access to jump seats and the verification of crew credentials across different carriers. If convicted, he could face substantial penalties for wire fraud under federal law.