Catch him if you can: Ex-flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for nearly five years
Pokornik now faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026.
Dallas Pokornik, a former flight attendant, has pleaded guilty to posing as a pilot for nearly five years and defrauding three major US airlines. Using a fake identification badge, Pokornik exploited a system offering discounted or free flights to airline employees, known as Non Rev, obtaining hundreds of free flights. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court, facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The scheme was uncovered in 2024 after an airline employee suspected the fake pilot badge and reported it. Pokornik now faces sentencing on December 8, 2026, and will be required to compensate the airlines for the fraud.
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