Canadian man allegedly poses as pilot for years to book hundreds of free US flights

Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, is accused of exploiting airline staff travel systems by falsely claiming to be an active pilot or airline employee, U.S. authorities said. He has been charged with wire fraud and has pleaded not guilty following his extradition to the US, according to Mothership.

Prosecutors allege Pokornik carried out the scheme over roughly four years, using false credentials and fabricated employee information to book flights on at least three U.S.-based airlines at no cost or at steep discounts, Telegraph reported.

Court filings say Pokornik previously worked as a flight attendant for Air Canada between 2017 and 2019. Investigators believe that experience helped him understand airline booking systems and staff verification processes, allowing the alleged scheme to continue undetected for years.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Pokornik also repeatedly attempted to persuade airline staff to grant him access to the cockpit jump seat, a seat typically reserved for off-duty pilots, trainees or airline inspectors. Prosecutors say he did not hold an airman's certificate. It remains unclear whether any of those requests were successful.

Social media posts reviewed by investigators and reported by media outlets show Pokornik traveling widely, including to New York, London, Los Angeles, Mexico and Thailand. In one video posted in 2022, he appeared to be boarding a private jet.

Pokornik was arrested in Panama in January and later extradited to the U.S. He was indicted in federal court in Hawaii last October. A U.S. magistrate judge has ordered that he remain in custody, citing concerns that he poses a flight risk.

If convicted, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release, prosecutors said.