Former flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for free flights
A former Toronto flight attendant has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the United States after prosecutors said he used a fake pilot identification badge to obtain hundreds of free flights over nearly five years.
Dallas Pokornik, 34, of Toronto, pleaded guilty in federal court in Honolulu, Hawaii, to one count of wire fraud, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
According to court documents cited by prosecutors, Pokornik, a former flight attendant for a Canadian airline, used a fictitious employee identification card to pose as a commercial pilot and obtain free flights on three US-based airlines between January 2020 and October 28, 2024.
How the scheme worked
According to a plea agreement reviewed by CBC News, Pokornik had worked as a flight attendant for an unspecified Toronto-based airline from July 2017 to October 2019.
He later used a false identification badge, claiming he was still employed there, to obtain travel benefits typically reserved for pilots, including flight tickets from the companies identified in court records only as airlines 1, 2, and 3. Prosecutors said he even requested a jump seat, the cockpit seat reserved for pilots.
Throughout the scheme, Pokornik regularly posted photos and videos of his travels on social media, sharing glimpses from destinations including London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Phuket, Thailand.
How Pokornik was caught
His scheme unraveled after an employee at one of the US airlines photographed the forged identification and passed it along to Pokornik’s former employer, which confirmed the badge was fake, in part because it listed an expiration date in 2027, according to the plea agreement.
Pokornik was arrested in Panama and extradited to the United States in January, following his indictment in October 2025.
Penalties and next steps
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release.
He also agreed, as part of his plea deal, to pay restitution to the three airlines affected. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2026, before US District Judge Shanlyn A.S Park.
Homeland Security Investigations led the case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service.
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The post Former flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for free flights appeared first on AeroTime.
A former Toronto flight attendant has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the United States after prosecutors said…
The post Former flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for free flights appeared first on AeroTime.
