Canadian pilot flew for 17 years without captain's licence, now faces fraud charges

A former Air Canada captain allegedly used forged documents to fly commercial aircraft for nearly two decades without the required licence.

Canadian pilot flew for 17 years without captain's licence, now faces fraud charges

Canadian authorities have charged a former airline captain who allegedly flew commercial aircraft for nearly two decades without holding the required licence. The 59-year-old man from Ontario is accused of using forged documents to fake his qualifications since 2009, when he was promoted to captain.

The man began his career with Air Canada in 1998 and spent 27 years with the carrier. According to police, after his promotion he carried out approximately 900 domestic and international flights on various Boeing aircraft types. During that time he reportedly earned millions of dollars in salary, despite allegedly lacking the proper credentials to command a plane, reports the BBC.

In Canada, pilots seeking to become captains must obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), which requires passing a series of written examinations. The accused did not hold this licence, yet presented himself as if he did.

The irregularity came to light last year during a routine documentation review. Discrepancies in his records triggered an investigation by Transport Canada and later a criminal probe by regional police in the Toronto area. During the investigation, officers conducted a search of his home and examined his driver's licence, which they determined was also forged.

Air Canada said the pilot was immediately removed from duty once the false documents were discovered, and the airline voluntarily reported the matter to authorities. The company stressed that passenger safety was never compromised. The man retired in 2025, before a regulatory and criminal investigation codenamed "Project Icarus" began in January.

He faces seven charges, including fraud and forgery. His first court appearance is scheduled for 29 June 2026.

Source: Delo/BBC

Source: Delo