HONOLULU (AP) — A former flight attendant for a Canadian airline has been charged with wire fraud after allegedly posing as a commercial pilot and current flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from various U.S. airlines.
Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was apprehended in Panama following an indictment issued by federal authorities in Hawaii last October. After being extradited to the U.S., he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Prosecutors outlined that Pokornik held a position as a flight attendant for an airline in Toronto from 2017 to 2019, during which he allegedly used counterfeit employee identification to procure tickets intended specifically for employees of the airlines, including tickets from three unnamed U.S. airlines based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas.
The indictment comes amidst rising scrutiny over airline security and the integrity of staff identification, especially as prosecutors revealed that Pokornik had even sought to occupy the 'jump seat' in the cockpit, which is typically reserved for off-duty pilots. However, it's unclear whether he ever successfully gained access to an aircraft's cockpit.
Representatives for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines did not offer immediate comments regarding the case. In addition, Air Canada, the airline where Pokornik previously worked, was also unresponsive to inquiries regarding the incident.
The fraudulent scheme reportedly spanned four years, highlighting potential lapses in airline identification verification processes, and prosecutors emphasized that such actions pose significant risks to airline safety and operational security.
A magistrate judge ordered Pokornik to remain in custody without bail during this ongoing case. His federal defender has declined to make any official statements related to the allegations.
This case resonates with parallels to the 2002 film 'Catch Me If You Can,' which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale, who similarly impersonated a pilot among other identities to deceitfully acquire free airline tickets. The increasing instances of impersonation in the aviation sector have raised serious concerns regarding safety and regulatory measures as airlines reevaluate identification protocols in light of such fraud attempts.
Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was apprehended in Panama following an indictment issued by federal authorities in Hawaii last October. After being extradited to the U.S., he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Prosecutors outlined that Pokornik held a position as a flight attendant for an airline in Toronto from 2017 to 2019, during which he allegedly used counterfeit employee identification to procure tickets intended specifically for employees of the airlines, including tickets from three unnamed U.S. airlines based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas.
The indictment comes amidst rising scrutiny over airline security and the integrity of staff identification, especially as prosecutors revealed that Pokornik had even sought to occupy the 'jump seat' in the cockpit, which is typically reserved for off-duty pilots. However, it's unclear whether he ever successfully gained access to an aircraft's cockpit.
Representatives for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines did not offer immediate comments regarding the case. In addition, Air Canada, the airline where Pokornik previously worked, was also unresponsive to inquiries regarding the incident.
The fraudulent scheme reportedly spanned four years, highlighting potential lapses in airline identification verification processes, and prosecutors emphasized that such actions pose significant risks to airline safety and operational security.
A magistrate judge ordered Pokornik to remain in custody without bail during this ongoing case. His federal defender has declined to make any official statements related to the allegations.
This case resonates with parallels to the 2002 film 'Catch Me If You Can,' which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale, who similarly impersonated a pilot among other identities to deceitfully acquire free airline tickets. The increasing instances of impersonation in the aviation sector have raised serious concerns regarding safety and regulatory measures as airlines reevaluate identification protocols in light of such fraud attempts.
