A Canadian man has pleaded guilty to scamming U.S. airlines out of hundreds of free flights by falsely representing himself as a pilot. Dallas Pokornik, 34, admitted to federal prosecutors that he used a fraudulent employee identification card to obtain free travel on three different American airlines between January 2020 and October 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii, Pokornik's scheme involved presenting a fake ID to airline staff. The indictment stated that he knew the badge was fraudulent at the time he presented it to secure complimentary tickets. At one point, Pokornik allegedly requested a jump seat in the cockpit, despite not possessing an airman's certificate or being a qualified pilot.
Pokornik had previously worked as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based commercial airline from July 2017 to October 2019, but he was never a pilot. The fictitious badge he used identified him as a current employee of this airline.
The airlines targeted in the scam were headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; and Fort Worth, Texas. Social media posts from Pokornik's now-deleted public profiles previously showed him traveling in various international locations, including Thailand and England, as well as within California. One video appeared to show him inside what looked like a private aircraft.
Pokornik was charged with wire fraud in connection with two tickets issued by a Honolulu-based airline in August and October 2024. He was arrested by Panamanian authorities after a federal warrant was issued and subsequently extradited to the United States.
As part of his plea agreement, Pokornik will pay restitution for all losses caused by his actions. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Prosecutors have indicated they will recommend approximately 30 days of credit for his time in detention in Panama.
His sentencing is scheduled for December 8 before U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. Park. "Travel security protocols help keep our citizens and visitors safe, and anyone who breaches those protocols should expect to be brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.