European airlines employed a fake flight captain without a license
According to reporting by AeroTelegraph, a German publication about air transport, a pilot who served as captain for a wet-lease carrier called Avion Express (based in Lithuania) did so despite allegedly lacking the required qualifications. Before joining the company, he had reportedly worked only as a co-pilot for Garuda Indonesia. Investigators now believe he falsified his documentation to secure a captain’s position at Avion Express.
Avion Express confirmed the case
Over the summer, he reportedly operated Airbus A320 flights across several European countries. With those falsified credentials, he subsequently flew aircraft on behalf of several Avion Express clients, including Eurowings, SunExpress, and LOT Polish Airlines.
Avion Express acknowledged the situation when contacted by AeroTelegraph. “The company recently became aware of unverified information regarding his work experience. An internal investigation was immediately launched and is currently ongoing,” a spokesperson said to AeroTelegraph. The airline stressed that its hiring procedures follow all aviation regulations, adding, “Safety and compliance remain our top priorities.” The carrier has not yet revealed additional details. But acknowledged that this pilot worked effectively with the company.
Aviation Safety Concerns Resurface
So far, investigators say there is no indication that the unqualified pilot endangered passengers or caused irregularities in flight operations. Still, the case has raised widespread concern. “The investigation is complex and involves multiple countries and institutions. We will provide information as soon as possible,” an Avion Express spokesperson told the UK newspaper Daily Mail.
This is not the first such incident. In 2010, a Swedish pilot carrying a fake license was arrested in the cockpit at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and fined €2,000, along with a year-long flying ban. In June 2025, US authorities charged a man who had impersonated a flight attendant for more than six years, taking over 120 flights for free. He now faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
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