- Thread Author
- #1
A Canadian man posed as a pilot and flight attendant to get hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines.
According to court documents, Dallas Pokornik was a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline between 2017 and 2019. He then used a fake employee ID from the company to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants from three other airlines.
U.S. prosecutors said Pokornik even requested an extra seat in the cockpit, called a jump seat, which is usually reserved for pilots on leave. It is not known, however, whether he ever sat in one.
The airlines named in the indictment were not disclosed, but they are said to be based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth. Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines did not respond to requests for comment.
The Toronto airline where he worked was also not named. Air Canada denied having any record of anyone named Dallas Pokornik.
U.S. prosecutors in Hawaii said the fraud went on for four years. A U.S. judge ordered Pokornik to remain in custody and his lawyer declined to comment.
The charges are reminiscent of the movie Catch Me If You Can, in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, a man who conned airlines by posing as a pilot and flying for free.
According to court documents, Dallas Pokornik was a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline between 2017 and 2019. He then used a fake employee ID from the company to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants from three other airlines.
U.S. prosecutors said Pokornik even requested an extra seat in the cockpit, called a jump seat, which is usually reserved for pilots on leave. It is not known, however, whether he ever sat in one.
The airlines named in the indictment were not disclosed, but they are said to be based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth. Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines did not respond to requests for comment.
The Toronto airline where he worked was also not named. Air Canada denied having any record of anyone named Dallas Pokornik.
U.S. prosecutors in Hawaii said the fraud went on for four years. A U.S. judge ordered Pokornik to remain in custody and his lawyer declined to comment.
The charges are reminiscent of the movie Catch Me If You Can, in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, a man who conned airlines by posing as a pilot and flying for free.
