An American man pretended to be a pilot or steward for six years, allowing him to fly for free over 120 times. The man has since been found guilty of electronic fraud and unauthorized entry into secure airports.
Between 2018 and 2024, Tiron A. booked free flights on an airline’s website that are normally only available to staff. He was able to do this by using made-up badge numbers and dates of employment.
Ultimately, A. booked more than 120 free flights by posing as cabin crew, the court writes. He did not perform any work during these air travels. Due to a lack of control, he was able to continue doing so for six years.
The 35-year-old man fabricated fake badges and managed to gain access to secure parts of airports that are only intended for staff. The man also allegedly booked tickets for friends and family. It is not clear whether they knew about A.’s practices.
The fraud came to light when airlines noticed suspicious patterns in the booking system. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was called in for an investigation. A. will hear what punishment he will receive on August 25.