A former pilot flew commercial Air Canada planes for nearly 17 years without holding the necessary license to serve as a captain, according to Ontario police.
An investigation into fraud and falsification of documents revealed that the pilot, who served with the company from 1998 until 2025, changed an essential credential when he was promoted to captain in 2009.
The investigation, called Project Ícaro, indicates an intentional plan to circumvent public protection mechanisms. Nando Iannicca, president of the Peel Police Services Council, reinforced that, in these cases, it is essential to demand responsibility.
Authorities reported that the man commanded Boeing 767, 777 and 787 jets on more than 900 flights, both domestic and international, carrying tens of thousands of passengers without the mandatory qualifications.
“Our investigation indicates that everything occurred without the correct licenses, in particular without the airline pilot license required to transport passengers,” said Deputy Police Chief Nick Milinovich. He added that the accused had presented false data about his training to both the company and the regulator.
Milinovich also pointed out that the former pilot allegedly filed a false report with the police about an alleged theft of documents that the investigation concluded did not happen.
No additional information was released about this episode.
The criminal investigation began in January after Air Canada reported to Transport Canada an internal regulatory check it carried out on the captain — a measure the company said it took on its own initiative.
Detective Sergeant Chad Mitchell, from the Fraud sector, explained that the trigger for the investigation was a routine assessment of the former pilot’s credentials and performance in March 2025 at Pearson International Airport.
“Inconsistencies were identified” in the documentation presented at the time, which triggered the company’s review and, subsequently, the police investigation.
The investigation concluded that the pilot did not have an airline pilot’s license during the entire time he served as a captain at Air Canada.
“This advanced credential is required to operate the aircraft that the defendant piloted in the captain’s role,” Mitchell said.
The pilot was detained on June 1, according to Mitchell. His first court appearance in Brampton is scheduled for June 29.
He faces seven charges, which include fraud, use of false documents and disturbing public order.
Air Canada released a statement in response to the accusations, ensuring that “safety was never compromised in this case” and recalling that all of its pilots undergo mandatory recurring training every six months, including flight checks with a pilot examiner certified by Transport Canada every 12 months.
Authorities stated on Tuesday that there is no evidence of other people being involved in the scheme and that the pilot will retire at the beginning of 2025.
Even so, the company recognized that the appropriate license is essential to fly and said it would treat the case “with the utmost seriousness”.
“Throughout his entire period at Air Canada, the individual was a fully trained pilot, with a valid Commercial Pilot License, and met or exceeded all required recurring training, demonstrating a high level of competence to safely operate large aircraft,” added the company.
Air Canada noted, however, that Canadian regulations require captains of large aircraft to hold an airline transport pilot’s license (ATPL), earned through specific written exams.
The pilot in question was removed from operational duties, the company said.
The Airline Pilots Association said in a statement to CTV News on Monday that it is monitoring the ongoing investigation.