A former flight attendant has been indicted on wire-fraud charges after prosecutors say he posed as a pilot for four years to obtain free travel.
At a Glance
- Dallas Pokornik, 33, allegedly used a fake pilot ID to ride in cockpit jumpseats on hundreds of flights
- He was extradited from Panama and pleaded not guilty in Hawaii federal court
- If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
- Why it matters: The scheme allegedly exposed security gaps on multiple U.S. carriers
Pokornik’s indictment, returned in October 2025 and unsealed after his arrest, claims he flew without paying on three airlines based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
From Crew to Cockpit
While employed as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based carrier from 2017 to 2019, Pokornik allegedly began presenting himself as an off-duty pilot, a Jan. 20 press release states.
Court records say he:
- Created a bogus airline-pilot ID
- Requested jumpseat access normally reserved for commuting crew
- Boarded aircraft without holding the required federal credentials
Investigators have not specified which routes or dates were involved, but they say the scheme spanned four years.
Arrest and Charges
Panamanian authorities detained Pokornik on an Interpol notice. After extradition he appeared in Honolulu federal court, where he entered a not-guilty plea and was ordered detained, the Associated Press reported.
The single-count indictment alleges wire fraud tied to the false representation. Each conviction on that charge carries:
- Up to 20 years’ imprisonment
- A maximum $250,000 fine
- Supervised release
Prosecutors have not disclosed the total value of the flights they say he obtained fraudulently.
Pattern of Airline Fraud
The case is the latest in a string of impostor schemes on U.S. carriers.
- In June 2025, a man pleaded guilty to posing as a flight attendant and taking 120 free trips between 2018 and 2024; sentencing is set for Jan. 23, the Honolulu Star Observer noted
- In 2019, a former JetBlue gate agent admitted to converting low-cost tickets into higher-fare ones for friends and relatives, costing the airline $785,000 in losses
The Transportation Security Administration and airline security teams have not commented on whether Pokornik’s alleged breach will lead to new jumpseat verification procedures.
Next Court Date
Pokornk remains in federal custody. No trial date has been announced.
Key Takeaways
- A 33-year-old ex-flight attendant is accused of faking pilot credentials to fly free on three carriers
- He faces two decades behind bars if found guilty
- Authorities say the fraud highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in cockpit access protocols
