Canada man, 33, pretends to be pilot from fake airline to go on hundreds of free flights, authorities say

A former flight attendant from Canada has been accused of posing as a commercial pilot and an active cabin crew member to fraudulently obtain hundreds of free flights on U.S. airlines, according to federal prosecutors.

Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, is charged with wire fraud after allegedly exploiting airline staff travel systems over a four-year period.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges following his extradition to the United States.

Four-year scheme

Pokornik is accused of falsely claiming to be an airline pilot and presenting a fictitious Air Canada employee identification card to secure complimentary or heavily discounted flights on three different U.S.-based airlines, reported The Telegraph.

Prosecutors allege the scheme ran for four years and resulted in airlines issuing tickets “at no cost”.

Pokornik previously worked as a flight attendant for Air Canada between 2017 and 2019, and investigators say that his experience there helped him navigate airline booking systems and staff verification processes.

Jump seat requests and jet-setting lifestyle

Photographs posted on Mr Pokornik’s Facebook account, checked by Mothership, show him leading a jet-setting lifestyle, with travel to destinations including New York, London, Thailand, Los Angeles and Mexico.

A September 2022 video shows him boarding a private jet and relaxing in a leather seat with a glass of wine.

His last Facebook post showed him in Phuket, Thailand, where he asked followers whether he should visit a floating beach club.

Pokornik also allegedly repeatedly attempted to persuade airline staff to allow him access to the cockpit jump seat, a seat typically reserved for off-duty pilots, trainees or inspectors, despite not holding an airman’s certificate, according to a statement given by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

It remains unclear whether he ever actually travelled in the cockpit.

US prosecutors have declined to confirm this, and court documents do not specify whether any such requests were successful, reported NBC.

Arrest

Pokornik was arrested in Panama in January and later extradited to the United States, where he was indicted in federal court in Hawaii last October.

A U.S. magistrate judge has ordered that he remain in custody, citing concerns over flight risk.

Prosecutors have alleged there were “no conditions” that could guarantee he would appear in court if released on bail.

If convicted, Mr Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to US$250,000 (S$320,000), and a term of supervised release.

The allegations have drawn comparisons to the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, in which Leonardo DiCaprio portrays real-life conman Frank Abagnale, who posed as a Pan Am pilot to obtain free flights.

Top photos via dallas.pokornik/Facebook