Disgrace for fake pilot who used slew of crafty tricks to dupe airlines into giving him 200 free flights across the world

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 16:09, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 16:29, 11 August 2026 A fake pilot who scammed US airlines into giving him hundreds of free flights across the world has seen his trickery end in disgrace. Dallas Pokornik, 34, falsely represented himself as an airline pilot from January 2020 to October 2024, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii. Pokornik, of Canada, used a fake employee ID card to get on free flights on three different American airlines. He pled guilty last Thursday and admitted to the scheme, which federal prosecutors had described after indicting Pokornik in January. Pokornik would present his fake ID, 'which he in fact knew to be fraudulent at the time it was so presented,' and obtain tickets at no cost, per the indictment viewed by the Daily Mail. The scammer even 'requested a jump seat in the cockpit' despite not being a pilot and not possessing an airman's certificate. Pokornik had been a flight attendant for a commercial airline based in Toronto, Canada, from July 2017 to October 2019, according to the indictment. However, he was never a pilot. His fictitious badge said he currently worked for that unidentified Toronto airline, according to the indictment. Dallas Pokornik, 34, admitted last Thursday that he tricked his way into hundreds of free flights by pretending to be a pilot or flight attendant The US Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii previously said Pokornik had allegedly 'requested a jump seat in the cockpit of the aircraft,' even though he was not a pilot The three American airlines that Pokornik scammed were headquartered in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas, the indictment said. Since-deleted posts on a public social media profile previously showed Pokornik in Thailand, England and California. In one video, he was seen posing with a drink inside what appeared to be a private aircraft. 'Many of my friends are married. Many of my friends are having kids,' he wrote in another post. 'I'm over here trying to avoid checking my bag and hoping for a window seat.' A separate publication tagged 'Team no sleep' showed Pokornik flying from London to Manhattan. He bobbed his head and smiled widely while showing off the view outside his plane window. Pokornik had been charged with wire fraud linked to two tickets issued on the Hawaii-based airline around August and October 2024. After pleading guilty, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces a supervised release of up to three years after serving his sentence.  A federal indictment said Pokornik had scammed airlines headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, Chicago, Illinois, and Fort Worth, Texas Pokornik was charged with wire fraud in connection to two tickets issued on a Honolulu-based airline in August and October 2024, according to the indictment (Photo of Honolulu) He was arrested by Panamanian authorities after a federal warrant was issued and then extradited to the US (Photo of Panama City, Panama) Pokornik’s plea deal, viewed by the Daily Mail, noted that an employee from the Hawaiian airline had taken a picture of his forged badge, though it did not provide further details. Its lack of authenticity was subsequently confirmed by Pokornik’s former employer, as the badge listed an expiration date in 2027 'among other things,' the agreement said. As part of his deal, Pokornik will pay 'restitution for all losses caused by [his] conduct.' The airlines that Pokornik tricked have never been named as part of the indictment or the plea agreement. Pokornik is currently scheduled to be sentenced on December 8 by US District Judge Shanlyn A S Park. “Travel security protocols help keep our citizens and visitors safe, and anyone who breaches those protocols should expect to be brought to justice,” US Attorney Ken Sorenson said. The government will recommend that Pokornik gets about 30 days credit for his detention in Panama, as he was taken into custody by the Panamanian government based upon a federal warrant before being extradited to the US. The Daily Mail has reached out to Melinda Yamaga, Pokornik's attorney, and the US Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii for comment.