Air Canada Pilot Fired After Flying for 17 Years Without Required License

An Air Canada pilot has been charged after it was discovered that he had been operating flights as a captain for 17 years using forged credentials, the BBC reported on June 9 (local time).

According to the BBC, Jeffrey Wall, 59, an Air Canada pilot, operated 900 domestic and international flights without the proper qualifications after being promoted to captain in 2009.

During his time as a captain, Wall flew thousands of passengers on commercial flights and earned millions of dollars in salary.

Air Canada discovered the forged documents during a routine evaluation last year and immediately removed him from his duties as a captain.

The airline voluntarily reported the incident to Transport Canada.

According to local police, Wall, a resident of Ontario, Canada, is accused of forging and submitting the necessary credentials required for the captain position when he was promoted.

The pilot had been employed at Air Canada for 27 years, having joined the company in 1998.

To serve as a captain, one must pass written exams and obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).

Air Canada stated that while the pilot held a valid commercial pilot license, he did not possess the ATPL required to perform captain duties.

Wall was charged with seven counts, including fraud and forgery, on June 1, and is scheduled to appear in court on June 29.

Police official Nick Milinovich remarked, "It is similar to a doctor with a family medicine license performing brain surgery in an office."

The airline stated that after the incident came to light, it completed an audit of all its pilots and found no other instances of regulation violations.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.