Former Air Canada Pilot Arrested for Allegedly Flying 17 Years With a Fake Licence

A former Air Canada pilot has been arrested after police alleged he operated commercial flights for years using a counterfeit pilot license, according to multiple Canadian media reports.

Authorities said the pilot, who worked for the airline for nearly three decades, is facing several charges after investigators determined that his credentials were not valid for the aircraft he had been operating. Police stated that although he held a commercial pilot licence, he was not licensed to act as captain on passenger flights, contradicting the qualifications required for the role.

The case came to light during a police review of historical licensing records. Investigators allege the pilot used a “counterfeit” or improperly issued licence to continue flying, a situation described by one outlet as “like a movie script” due to the scale and duration of the alleged deception.

CTV News reported that the pilot may have flown hundreds of commercial flights over a 17‑year period without the proper authorization, raising questions about how the irregularities went undetected for so long.

Air Canada has not publicly identified the pilot but confirmed that he is no longer employed by the airline. The company stated that it is cooperating fully with authorities and emphasized that all active pilots undergo regular licence verification and recurrent training.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing as they review additional records and determine whether further charges will be laid.

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