A former senior captain at Air Canada has been arrested and released on fraud charges after allegedly operating hundreds of flights without holding the required Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), according to Canadian authorities.
The investigation reportedly began after a random certification review uncovered inconsistencies in the pilot’s credentials. Despite lacking the mandatory license, the individual had been promoted to captain and flew numerous passenger flights before the issue was discovered.
Air Canada immediately removed the pilot from active duty and voluntarily reported the matter to authorities. The airline also conducted a comprehensive audit of its pilot workforce and stated that no other cases of non-compliance were identified. The former captain is no longer employed by the carrier.
In a statement, Air Canada emphasized that flight safety was not compromised, noting that all pilots undergo recurrent training every six months and annual flight checks conducted by certified Transport Canada examiners. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue legal proceedings.