Air Canada pilot accused of flying for 17 years with forged license

Air Canada.
Disclosure/Air Canada
A former Air Canada pilot was accused by Canadian authorities of commanding commercial flights for 17 years using a falsified license. According to the police, Geoffrey Wall, aged 59, made hundreds of domestic and international trips without having the certification required to act as an aircraft captain.
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The investigation shows that Wall used fraudulent documents since 2009, when he was promoted to the position of captain. To perform this role in Canada, it is necessary to have an airline pilot's license (ATPL), obtained after passing a series of exams and specific requirements.
According to the Peel Regional Police, in the Toronto region, the case "looks like a movie script". Authorities say Wall racked up nearly 900 flights on Boeing aircraft and received millions of dollars in wages over the period he allegedly served without proper credentials.
The fraud came to light during a random certification check conducted last year at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. The check identified inconsistencies in the documentation presented by the pilot, which led to the opening of an investigation by Transport Canada, the federal agency responsible for transport in the country.
The investigation, called "Project Ícaro", included search warrants and analysis of the pilot's documents. According to investigators, the license presented by Wall was forged.
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The deputy chief of the Peel Regional Police, Nick Milinovich, compared the case to that of a doctor authorized to act as a general practitioner who decides to perform brain surgery in a hospital.
"Licensing requirements exist for a reason. They exist to keep people safe," he said.
Wall was arrested and charged with seven crimes, including fraud, forgery of documents, possession of a counterfeit trademark and false communication to the authorities. He was later released and is expected to return to court at the end of this month.
In a statement, Air Canada reported that the pilot had worked for the company since 1998 and was immediately removed after the irregularities were discovered. The company added that it voluntarily reported the case to the Canadian Ministry of Transport.
The company also stated that passenger safety was not compromised, noting that all of its pilots undergo mandatory refresher training every six months and periodic flight competency assessments.
"Proper licensing is an essential layer of the airline industry's approach to safety. Air Canada treats this matter with the utmost seriousness," stated the company.
According to the company, an internal audit was carried out after the discovery of the case and did not identify other irregularities among its pilots.
When asked how the alleged fraud remained undetected for so long, Milinovich stated that cases of this type can last for years. "Some fraudsters become very good at deceiving. It is not uncommon for fraud to continue for a long time before it is discovered," he said.

Source: G1

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