Toronto Man Accused of Posing as Pilot to Fly Free
HONOLULU — A former flight attendant from Toronto is in U.S. custody after allegedly posing as a pilot to take hundreds of free flights, U.S. officials say.
The case has drawn attention for its unusual blend of air travel perks and federal fraud charges.
Arrest, Charges and Extradition
Dallas Pokornik, 33 years old and from Toronto, was arrested in Panama last year.
He was indicted on wire fraud charges in a federal court in Hawaii in October 2025.
Pokornik was extradited to the United States and pleaded not guilty in court this week.
A U.S. magistrate judge ordered him to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
How the Scheme Worked
Court documents say Pokornik worked as a flight attendant for a Canadian airline from 2017 to 2019.
After leaving that job, he allegedly used fake employee identification to access travel benefits for pilots and crew on other airlines.
Officials say he booked standby tickets meant for flight crews on at least three U.S. airlines.
He even requested to sit in an extra cockpit “jump seat” that pilots often use when off duty.
It’s not clear if he ever rode in a cockpit while flying.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on that detail.
Airlines Involved
The indictment did not name the airlines involved.
Prosecutors only said the carriers were based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas.
Industry experts note that many carriers in those cities include Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines.
However, none have publicly confirmed their involvement.
Length of the Scheme
U.S. prosecutors say the fraud continued for about four years.
During that time, Pokornik reportedly booked and took flights using the improper credentials.
What’s Next in the Case
Pokornik faces serious penalties if convicted.
Wire fraud can carry years in prison and heavy fines under U.S. law.
His lawyer made no public comment after the latest court appearance.
The case resembles infamous fraud stories about fake pilots exploiting travel perks.
