Former flight attendant pleads guilty to posing as pilot for nearly five years

A former flight attendant has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after spending nearly five years posing as a pilot to secure hundreds of free flights across three major U.S. airlines. Dallas Pokornik, 33, exploited the "Non Rev" system, which offers discounted or free travel to airline employees and industry personnel based on seat availability.

Pokornik, who worked as a flight attendant until 2019, continued to use his knowledge of the system after leaving his job. He presented himself as a pilot, sometimes requesting a "jumpseat" in the cockpit when passenger cabin seats were unavailable. This elaborate impersonation scheme drew comparisons to the film "Catch Me If You Can."

The fraud was discovered in 2024 when Pokornik presented a fake pilot badge to an airline employee, who became suspicious and reported the incident. An investigation confirmed he was not a pilot for the airline he claimed to represent. The three defrauded airlines were not explicitly named in court documents, but their headquarters' locations, Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas, were disclosed, corresponding to Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines, respectively.

Pokornik now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026. As part of his plea agreement, he has also agreed to compensate the victimized airlines, with the exact restitution amount to be determined at his sentencing hearing.