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A former flight attendant posed as a pilot and received hundreds of free flights, US authorities say
Dallas Pokornik allegedly used fake credentials to secure hundreds of free flights on U.S. airlines over four years and faces up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.
- Federal prosecutors in Hawaii charged Dallas Pokornik, former Air Canada flight attendant, with wire fraud after his extradition from Panama; he pleaded not guilty Tuesday and will appear before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield.
- From July 17, 2017 to Oct. 7, 2019, court records show he worked as a flight attendant for Air Canada and then used that carrier's fake ID to request crew-only travel on three other airlines.
- Court filings detail that on Oct. 17, 2024 he used fake crew credentials and presented a fabricated Air Canada employee badge, while U.S. prosecutors say he requested a cockpit 'jump seat' though records do not confirm cockpit access.
- A U.S. magistrate ordered him to remain in custody after prosecutors urged detention as a serious flight risk; he is represented by the Federal Public Defender and faces up to 20 years in prison.
- The allegations prompted comparisons to 'Catch Me If You Can'; carriers and Air Canada did not respond to comment requests, and the indictment cited only cities for the airlines involved.
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A Canadian turned out to be a commercial pilot and a flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines, the authorities said.
·Montreal, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources117
Leaning Left37Leaning Right9Center52Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 38%
C 53%
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