Man gets convicted after posing as flight attendant to enjoy free flights
A man from Florida, United States, has been convicted after posing as a flight attendant for airline carriers, which allowed him to enjoy over 120 flights for free.
According to court documents, the 35-year-old offender, named Tiron Alexander, pretended to be a flight attendant from 2018 to 2024 for an airline carrier and booked 34 free flights that were only accessible to pilots and flight attendants.
The authorities said Alexander was able to book the free flights through the airline carrier’s website application process, he worked for seven different airlines and had used approximately 30 different badge numbers and dates of hire.
"The evidence at trial also showed that Alexander posed as a flight attendant on three other airline carriers. Ultimately, Alexander booked more than 120 free flights by falsely claiming to be a flight attendant," the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said in the statement.
Per the NBC report, his October 2024 indictment stated that he had worked for an airline in Dallas since November 2015, but he was never a pilot or a flight attendant.
The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement Alexander was able to score free flights by fraudulently obtaining a boarding pass, and undergoing TSA security procedures including ID verification and physical screening, "and did not pose a threat to other airline passengers."
"TSA remains dedicated to the security of the flying public and will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws," it added, per the outlet.
Alexander's sentencing is set for Aug. 25. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
