Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jun 13: In a bizarre case of long-running airline deception, a 35-year-old US man, Tiron Alexander, has been convicted by a federal jury for posing as a flight attendant and fraudulently booking over 120 free flights between 2018 and 2024.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Alexander accessed airline staff websites to take advantage of ‘non-revenue travel’ a perk reserved for airline crew. Despite having worked in the airline industry since 2015, Alexander never served as a flight attendant or pilot.

Using 30 different badge numbers and fake employment records, Alexander booked dozens of free flights across several major US carriers, including American Airlines, Delta, Spirit, United, and Southwest.

Court documents revealed that he even posed as a flight attendant on at least four airlines, booking 34 flights on a single carrier alone.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clarified that while Alexander deceived airlines to obtain free tickets, he did not pose a physical threat. “He underwent all required TSA security checks including ID verification and physical screening,” the agency said, adding it supports strict action against those who flout aviation laws.

Alexander was convicted of wire fraud and illegally entering secure airport areas under false pretences. He now faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, 10 years for airport access violations, a fine of $250,000 (Rs 2.15 cr), and up to three years of supervised release.