by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Tue June 9, 2026
An Air Canada pilot has been fined and released after being arrested on fraud charges for allegedly flying hundreds of commercial flights without a proper license.
ABC News obtained information from Canada’s Peel Regional Police on “Project Icarus,” the fraud investigation into a random certification check that showed inconsistencies with the senior pilot’s license.
In an official statement, Air Canada supported Transport Canada’s fine against the pilot, who no longer works for the airline. It noted that while it was a serious charge, “safety was not compromised by this incident,” because all Air Canada pilots undergo training every six months to validate their flying ability, including an annual Transport Canada flight check.
“However, appropriate licensing is an essential layer of the airline industry’s multi-layered approach to safety, so Air Canada takes this matter with utmost seriousness. It has undertaken an audit of its pilot group and found no other instances of non-compliance,” the statement explained. “Also, pilot licenses are cross-checked by a certified check pilot twice a year as part of the recurrent checks and training, and Air Canada has reinforced its administrative practices when physically verifying licenses. This includes verifying the original documents issued by Transport Canada.”
According to the airline, throughout the pilot’s employment with Air Canada, the pilot was fully trained and held a valid commercial pilot license. However, regulations in Canada require captains of large aircraft operated by airlines to hold an airline transport pilot license (ATPL), which is awarded upon passing a series of written exams. The individual, who was a captain, lacked the mandatory ATPL for the position.
The pilot is due back in court again next month.
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