A Canadian man has been accused of pulling off a stunt straight out of Catch Me If You Can, allegedly posing as airline crew to score hundreds of free flights over several years.
According to a report from the BBC, US prosecutors say Dallas Pokornik repeatedly impersonated both a pilot and a flight attendant, allowing him to access heavily discounted or free standby travel reserved for airline staff.
Court filings state that Pokornik previously worked as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline between 2017 and 2019. After leaving the job, he is accused of continuing to use fraudulent employee credentials from that carrier to book flights on three separate US airlines by using a fake badge.
The documents do not explain how the invalid identification was able to pass airline verification checks, despite the industry’s heavy focus on security.
Man faces 20 years in prison after ‘Catch Me If You Can’ fake pilot stunt
Passenger airlines commonly allow their own staff, and sometimes employees of partner carriers, to travel for free or at steep discounts when seats are available. These benefits are intended to help crew members move between assignments but can also be used for personal travel. In some cases, off-duty pilots are allowed to sit in the cockpit or cabin jump seats, though regulations prohibit using cockpit jump seats for leisure.
Prosecutors allege that Pokornik went as far as requesting access to a cockpit jump seat, despite not being a licensed pilot or holding an airman’s certificate. Authorities claim this behavior occurred repeatedly after his legitimate airline employment had ended.
While the current indictment focuses on alleged incidents between January and October 2024, prosecutors say they are aware of similar conduct stretching back to early 2020. Investigators believe the scheme may have run for nearly four years.
Unsplash: Kevin boscIf convicted, Pokornik could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine of as much as $250,000, according to the United States Department of Justice.
The case has drawn comparisons to Frank Abagnale, whose memoir inspired Catch Me If You Can, later adapted into a 2002 film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Although airlines tightened employee travel policies after Abagnale’s story gained notoriety, authorities say similar schemes continue to surface.
Just last year, a Florida man was caught impersonating a flight attendant and allegedly booked more than 120 free flights by exploiting staff-only booking systems, underscoring that airline travel perks remain a target for fraud.
