A bizarre and unsettling story has emerged from the aviation world, revealing that a fraudulent pilot has been operating flights across Europe for several months. The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, allegedly forged credentials to secure a position as a captain with various prominent airlines.
According to initial reports, the imposter piloted numerous flights throughout Europe without possessing the required qualifications. The fact that this deception went undetected for so long raises serious questions about aviation security protocols.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full extent of the pilot’s activities and how the fraudulent documents were initially accepted. It is believed the individual previously worked as a co-pilot for an Indonesian airline before securing a position with a Lithuanian airline, Avion Express.
To bypass the necessary qualifications for a captain’s role, the individual allegedly falsified documents, leading to employment at Avion Express. Using these fraudulent credentials, the individual subsequently commanded flights for several of the Lithuanian company’s clients, including Eurowings (a subsidiary of Lufthansa), SunExpress (a Turkish airline), and LOT Polish Airlines.
The scandal reportedly came to light on November 10th, 2025, after an investigation by German aviation publication Aerograph revealed that an Avion Express employee had fabricated documents to obtain the rank of aircraft captain.
Avion Express, described as an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) airline, specializes in providing aircraft and complete crews to other airlines. The company boasts a fleet of over 50 aircraft, primarily Airbus A320 and A321 models, operating flights to destinations worldwide. The implications of this security breach are significant, potentially affecting passenger safety and eroding trust in airline operations. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
