A man in Canada is facing charges for allegedly pretending to be an airline employee to get free flights for years. The scheme is being compared to the movie Catch Me If You Can.
So, I was reading this crazy story on the BBC – apparently, this guy, Dallas Pokornik, was pretending to be a pilot and a flight attendant! He was basically scamming airlines to get super cheap or even free flights that are normally reserved for people who actually work for the airlines. Can you believe the nerve?
According to court documents, Pokornik used to work as a flight attendant for an airline based in Toronto from 2017 to 2019. After he stopped working there, he’s accused of illegally using old employee identification to book flights on three different US airlines, reportedly using a fake badge to do so.
It’s unclear how the incorrect ID was accepted during airline security checks, especially considering how much emphasis the airline industry places on security.
Man faces 20 years in prison after ‘Catch Me If You Can’ fake pilot stunt
As a frequent flyer, I’ve learned airline staff and sometimes employees of partner airlines get to travel for free or super cheap when there’s space. It’s mainly so crew can get to where they need to be for work, but they can use it for vacations too. I’ve even seen off-duty pilots riding in the cockpit ‘jump seat’ sometimes, though they’re not allowed to do that just for fun – it’s a work perk only.
Prosecutors say Pokornik repeatedly tried to get onto the flight deck as a jump seat passenger, even though he wasn’t a pilot and didn’t have the necessary credentials. This happened after he was no longer employed by an airline.
The recent charges cover actions supposedly taken between January and October 2024, but prosecutors have indicated they know about similar behavior dating back to the beginning of 2020. They think this activity may have been going on for almost four years.
The U.S. Department of Justice says that if found guilty, Pokornik could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of as much as $250,000.
This situation reminds people of the story of Frank Abagnale, who wrote a memoir that became the movie Catch Me If You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. While airlines improved security after Abagnale’s story became well-known, officials report that similar scams still happen today.
Recently in Florida, a man pretended to be a flight attendant and reportedly took over 120 free flights by using booking systems meant for airline staff. This highlights that airline employee benefits are still vulnerable to fraudulent activity.
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2026-01-23 22:19