A Toronto ex-flight attendant has admitted guilt in a U.S. federal court for partaking in a fraudulent scheme similar to the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Dallas Pokornik utilized fake identification to impersonate a pilot and secure numerous free flights across various airlines from January 2020 to October 2024, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Hawaii. Pokornik, aged 34, showcased his extensive global travels online, posting photos and videos from various locations until 2024.
In December 2023, a selfie video purportedly showing Pokornik at London’s Heathrow Airport was captioned, “Many of my friends are married. Many of my friends are having kids. I’m over here trying to avoid checking my bag and hoping for a window seat.” He was apprehended in Panama and extradited to the U.S. in January.
Following his guilty plea last week in a Honolulu U.S. district court to wire fraud, Pokornik faces a potential 20-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000. He also agreed to compensate three unnamed U.S.-based airlines, including one in Hawaii. U.S. Homeland Security investigations office’s acting special agent in charge, CJ Ammons, stated, “This individual exploited travel security measures for personal gain and will now face the repercussions.”
Prosecutors revealed that Pokornik previously served as a flight attendant for an unspecified Toronto airline from July 2017 to October 2019. Subsequently, he presented a “false and fictitious” ID badge, claiming ongoing employment with the Canadian airline to access pilot-exclusive travel benefits from airlines referred to as airlines 1, 2, and 3.
The unlawful activity ceased when an employee of one of the U.S.-based airlines captured a photo of the forged identification, leading to a confirmation by Pokornik’s former employer that the badge was fraudulent. Industry experts expressed surprise at the case, highlighting the challenges posed by sophisticated fake IDs. Pokornik’s sentencing is set for December 8.
Notably, only Porter Airlines, based in Toronto, is a major Canadian carrier headquartered there. Porter Airlines and other major Canadian airlines, Air Canada and WestJet, disclaimed any record of Pokornik ever being an employee. Court documents confirm Pokornik’s freedom under conditions as authorities retained his Canadian passport. His case is distinct from Project Icarus, a Peel Regional Police-led investigation that recently resulted in the arrest of a former Air Canada pilot for operating flights without a valid license.
