A Canadian man, Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, has been indicted for wire fraud following allegations that he posed as a commercial airline pilot to secure free flights. United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced the indictment on October 2, 2025. Pokornik was apprehended in Panama and extradited to the United States.
Court records state that over a period of four years, Pokornik claimed to be an airline pilot and used a fake employee identification card to board hundreds of flights without payment on three different airlines. He reportedly requested access to the cockpit jump seat despite not holding an airman’s certificate or being employed as a pilot.
If found guilty, Pokornik could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine reaching $250,000, and supervised release. “The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines,” said Sorenson.
Homeland Security Investigations is leading the inquiry with support from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar is prosecuting the case.
