Catch Me If You Can: Man Posed as Pilot, Scammed Free Flights

A 33-year-old man from Toronto, Dallas Pokornik, is accused of telephone fraud in the USA. He allegedly defrauded three airlines for four years by posing as a pilot.

Pokornik was a flight attendant from 2017 to 2019. He then used his employee ID to obtain free tickets. In one instance, he requested a jumpseat in the cockpit, intended for off-duty pilots.

Hawaii authorities report that the case resembles the movie 'Catch Me If You Can' with Leonardo DiCaprio. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

It is unclear how he managed to convince the companies that he was still employed years after his departure.