A Remarkable Scam Unfolds
This story takes an unexpected turn. A co-pilot has been accused of faking credentials to pose as a captain for a Lithuanian airline, taking charge of flights that ferried hundreds across Europe.
The individual’s identity remains undisclosed, but reports suggest he served as a captain for Avion Express, a Lithuanian airline, for an unknown duration. It’s astonishing, really, because he apparently didn’t have the right qualifications and had previously only been a co-pilot with Garuda Indonesia. German media outlet Aero Telegraph broke the story.
Avion Express, known for providing aircraft and crew through “wet-lease” agreements, acknowledged that they had employed pilots who have since been dismissed. They claim to be reviewing their hiring practices in light of the situation.
“We recently became aware of some unverified information regarding his professional background,” a spokesperson said. An internal probe is currently in progress. Their focus, they insist, is on maintaining safety and complying with regulations.
The fraudulent pilot also flew for other Western European airlines via Avion Express, including Germany’s Eurowings. Eurowings has confirmed they would engage safety experts to investigate further.
Founded in 2005, Avion Express operates charter flights across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. It’s part of the Avia Solutions Group, a larger holding company that has its roots in Lithuania but is based out of Ireland.
The fleet includes 55 Airbus A320 family aircraft, each holding up to 180 passengers. Eurowings, primarily owned by the Lufthansa Group, is a budget airline that often collaborates with others like Avion Express.
This incident sparks memories of other notorious cons, like Frank Abagnale, who famously forged airline employee credentials to secure free rides, yet never attempted to fly a plane himself.
Just recently, a man in Florida faced convictions for using approximately 30 fake flight attendant IDs to secure more than 100 free flights over six years. It makes one wonder—how many more stories like these are out there, lurking in the clouds?
