Ex-Toronto flight attendant who posed as a pilot for free flights pleads guilty to fraud
· Toronto Sun
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A Toronto man who worked who posed as a commercial airline pilot to scam free flights has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the United States.
Dallas Pokornik, 34, was arrested in Panama and extradited to Hawaii, where he will face charges following his indictment last October.
Pokornik had worked as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based carrier from 2017 to 2019, but went on to pose as a pilot from January 2020 to Oct. 28, 2024, using a fake employee ID card to get free flights, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Hawaii said in a news release .
The ex-crew member even requested to sit in the “jump seat” — an extra seat in the cockpit typically reserved for off-duty pilots, prosecutors alleged , though it was not confirmed whether he ever actually rode in a cockpit.
What airlines did he claim to work for?
As part of his plea agreement, Pokornik agreed to pay restitution to the three victim airlines, which are based in the U.S.
Previous court documents did not identify their airlines, only noting that they are based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas — the headquarters of Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines, respectively.
‘Brought to justice’
“Travel security protocols help keep our citizens and visitors safe, and anyone who breaches those protocols should expect to be brought to justice,” U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said in a statement.
“We thank our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and abroad for helping us hold this fraudster accountable.”
Homeland Security Acting Special Agent in Charge CJ Ammons added: “This individual took advantage of travel security protocols for his own benefit, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.”
Pokornik’s sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 8.
He faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, along with a term of supervised release.