Michael Fay, 59, spent eight months piloting an Airbus A320, landing it repeatedly at Gatwick Airport in London. He is now wanted for fraud, as police believe he has been seeking work as a pilot or flying instructor, according to the Telegraph.
Fay is a former U.S. Air Force pilot and had worked for Afriqiyah Airways, the Libyan national carrier, gaining employment with the use of forged documents, where he made eight landings at Gatwick between June 1, 2010 and February 3, 2011, when he was arrested.
Police became aware of his fraud when another pilot became suspicious after talking to him in an Internet forum.
Fay was due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, May 3, though he failed to do so. He was sentenced in absentia to three years in prison.
"Michael Fay is a clever and resourceful man who clearly shows no concern for public safety if he's willing to work without the correct licenses and medical certification."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been alerted and an international hunt for him is underway.
The fraud began shortly before the collapse of the Libyan government when Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime fell, which owned Afriqiyah Airways. The Libyan government had invested in a fleet that included the medium-range A320, which seats 144 passengers.
The airline was based in Tripoli and operated domestic services as well as international flights before the war broke out. It resumed services to Europe in July 2012 after it had lost safety accreditation during the conflict.
"He targeted Libyan aviation at a time when the country's political and economic standing was vulnerable and volatile," Det. Con Thorne said. "Had it not been for the quick thinking of a genuine pilot on the Internet forum, Fay may have continued to put the public at risk in this manner unnoticed.
"Public safety is paramount so it is important people are aware that he may be trying to gain work as an airline pilot or flying instructor overseas," Thorne continued.
A spokesman for the airline company said that Fay's employment "may have been arranged through a third-party broker" that should have checked his documents.
"The apparent use of forged documents by Michael Fay to secure his engagement with Afriqiyah Airways has also made us an unwitting victim in his criminal endeavors," the spokesman said. "At no time did his behavior or demeanor draw attention to his ability or competence to fly the aircraft either with his colleagues or the station staff at Gatwick.
"All flight deck crews have been assessed for competence in the U.K., Germany and other E.U. states by flight simulator checks and revalidation on type as necessary," the spokesman continued. "As a major national carrier, we place great emphasis on the safety and integrity of our crews and aircraft, and we will treat the investigation of this matter with the utmost seriousness it deserves."
The case is reminiscent of the infamous conman Frank Abagnale, Jr. who famously impersonated a pilot at age 16 and was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in a film based on his escapades, "Catch Me If You Can." Perhaps the police need to call in Tom Hanks.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
