Catch him if you can: Ex-flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for nearly five years

Dallas Pokornik, a 33-year-old former flight attendant, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for posing as a pilot for nearly five years, obtaining hundreds of free flights from three major US airlines. Pokornik exploited the "Non Rev" employee flight benefit system from January 2020 to October 2024, using a fake identification badge. His scheme was uncovered in 2024 when an airline employee suspected his badge was fraudulent, leading to an investigation, his location in Panama, and subsequent extradition to the US. Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution to the airlines, with sentencing scheduled for December 8, 2026. Federal prosecutor Ken Sorenson stated, "Aviation security protocols help keep citizens and visitors safe, and those who violate them should expect to be prosecuted."