A former pilot flew commercial planes for nearly 17 years allegedly without the required license, Ontario police said.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.A “complex fraud and forgery investigation” uncovered that a commercial airline pilot who spent the entirety of his career — from 1998 to 2025 — flying planes for Air Canada, had forged a license required of him when he was promoted to captain in 2009.The investigation, dubbed “Project Icarus,” suggests “a deliberate effort to circumvent systems designed to safeguard the public.
When that occurs, accountability is essential,” Chair of the Peel Police Services Board Nando Iannicca said.Officials said the man flew Boeing 767, 777 and 787 passenger jets for more than 900 domestic and international flights, carrying tens of thousands of passengers without the required license.
“Our investigation has led us to believe that this was all done without the appropriate licensing, more specifically, without an airline transport pilot license, which is a requirement to fly passengers,” Deputy Police Chief Nick Milinovich said.“Instead, we believe the accused misrepresented his qualifications to both his employer and the regulator.” Milinovich said it was believed that the former pilot had filed a false police report “in relation to an event found to have not occurred through this investigation with respect to stolen pilot documentation.”No further information was provided about that incident.The criminal investigation was launched in January after Air Canada notified Transport Canada about a regulatory investigation it had conducted into the captain — something the airline said it did voluntarily.
Fraud Bureau Detective Sergeant Chad Mitchell said the “catalyst” of the investigation took place in March 2025 at Pearson International Airport during a routine evaluation of the former pilot’s credentials and performance.“Ano...