A man has been charged with wire fraud in a federal court in Hawaii for allegedly impersonating an airline pilot to travel for free. Dallas Pokornik, 33, from Toronto, Canada, is accused of using a forged employee ID to gain access to hundreds of free flights across three airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines.
Court documents reveal that while Pokornik had prior experience as a flight attendant, he was never a licensed pilot and lacked an airman’s certificate. Despite this, he reportedly requested jump seats in the cockpits of aircraft, misleading the airlines about his qualifications.
Pokornik was indicted last October, apprehended in Panama, and subsequently extradited to the United States. He entered a not guilty plea in federal court on Tuesday and is scheduled for trial in March. Should he be found guilty, he faces severe consequences, including a potential 20-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, which is diligently working to uphold aviation safety and integrity. This case highlights the importance of stringent security measures in the airline industry to prevent unauthorized access to aircraft.
As the legal process unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the significant consequences that can arise from fraudulent activities in the transportation sector.