According to investigators, the 33-year-old Toronto native posed as a pilot and flight attendant for several years, thanks to which he made hundreds of free flights.
Prosecutors say Pokornik created a fake airline employee ID and used it to fly for free on American Airlines. The case file also states that he even asked permission to take a seat in the cockpit reserved for off-shift crew members.
The man was detained in Panama and extradited to the United States, where he is charged with wire fraud. As the prosecution notes, Pokornik actually previously worked as a flight attendant for a Canadian airline in 2017–2019, but at the time of the alleged scams he had no connection with aviation.
Investigators believe that between 2020 and 2024, Pokornik deceived at least three US airlines using a fake badge. The names of the carriers are not disclosed, but it is known that their headquarters are located in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth (Texas).
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
