Ex-Flight Attendant Allegedly Posed As Pilot To Score Hundreds Of Free Flights, DOJ Says

Jan 21•2 min read

The Justice Department says former Toronto flight attendant Dallas Pokornik, 33, allegedly used fake crew identification to claim pilot and flight-attendant tickets on three U.S. carriers and obtain hundreds of free flights. He was arrested in Panama after a Hawaii grand jury indicted him on wire fraud charges; he pleaded not guilty following extradition. Prosecutors say the scheme lasted about four years. If convicted, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and supervised release.

Honolulu — A former Canadian flight attendant is accused of impersonating a commercial pilot and posing as an active cabin crew member to obtain hundreds of complimentary flights on U.S. carriers, federal authorities said.

Arrest and Charges

Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was arrested in Panama after a federal grand jury in Hawaii indicted him last October on wire fraud charges. He was extradited to the United States, pleaded not guilty and was ordered by a U.S. magistrate judge to remain in custody, prosecutors said.

Allegations

Court documents say Pokornik worked as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline from 2017 through 2019. Prosecutors allege he used counterfeit employee identification from that carrier to claim tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants on three other U.S. airlines. Documents also say he requested to sit in the cockpit's extra "jump seat," which is typically reserved for off-duty pilots; filings do not confirm whether he ever did so.

Airlines and Duration

The indictment does not name the carriers, only noting they are based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas. Representatives for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines — which are headquartered in those cities — and Air Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hawaii prosecutors said the alleged scheme spanned about four years.

Potential Penalties

If convicted, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release, the Justice Department said.

Context and Related Incidents

Authorities noted the allegations echo the plot of the film Catch Me If You Can, in which Frank Abagnale impersonates a pilot to obtain free travel. Separately, prosecutors referenced a 2023 incident in which an off-duty Horizon Air pilot told colleagues "I'm not OK" before an attempt to sabotage a flight; that pilot, Joseph Emerson, later said he was struggling with depression and was sentenced to time served.