A Canadian man posed as a commercial pilot and as a working flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines, authorities said.
At a Glance
- Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was indicted on wire fraud charges in Hawaii last October
- He used fake employee ID from a Toronto airline to fly free on three U.S. carriers for four years
- Pokornik even requested the cockpit “jump seat” reserved for off-duty pilots
- Why it matters: The breach exposes gaps in airline employee verification systems
Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was arrested in Panama after being indicted on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday following his extradition to the United States.
How the Scheme Worked
According to court documents, Pokornik was a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline from 2017 to 2019. He then used fake employee identification from that carrier to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants on three other airlines.
The indictment did not identify the airlines that let him fly for free except to say they are based in:
- Honolulu
- Chicago
- Fort Worth, Texas
Representatives for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines – which are respectively based in those cities – didn’t immediately respond to emails from Olivia M. Hartwell seeking comment.
Cockpit Access Request
U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday that Pokornik even requested to sit in an extra seat in the cockpit – the “jump seat” – typically reserved for off-duty pilots. It was not clear from court documents whether he ever actually rode in a plane’s cockpit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to say.
Timeline and Duration
The scheme lasted four years, the U.S. prosecutors in Hawaii said.
| Period | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2017-2019 | Worked as flight attendant for Toronto-based airline |
| 2019-2023 | Used fake ID to fly free on three U.S. airlines |
| October 2023 | Indicted in Hawaii federal court |
| Tuesday | Pleaded not guilty after extradition |
Airline Response
The indictment also does not identify the Toronto-based airline. Air Canada, with headquarters in Montreal and a hub in Toronto, said in an email Wednesday it had no record of anyone named Pokornik having worked at the carrier.
Legal Proceedings
A U.S. magistrate judge on Tuesday ordered Pokornik to remain in custody. His federal defender declined to comment.
Comparison to Famous Case
The allegations against Pokornik are reminiscent of “Catch Me If You Can,” the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that tells the story of Frank Abagnale posing as a pilot to defraud an airline and obtain free flights.
Related Incident
In 2023, an off-duty airline pilot riding in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight said “I’m not OK” just before trying to cut the engines midflight. That pilot, Joseph Emerson, later told police he had been struggling with depression. A federal judge sentenced that man to time served last November.
Key Takeaways
- Pokornik obtained hundreds of free flights over four years
- He used credentials from a former employer to access travel benefits
- The case highlights potential security gaps in airline employee verification
- He faces wire fraud charges in federal court
