A former Air Canada pilot has been arrested and charged after allegedly operating commercial aircraft for nearly 17 years without holding the required airline transport pilot license.
According to international media reports, Canadian authorities have launched criminal proceedings against former pilot Jeffrey Wall, who is accused of flying more than 900 domestic and international flights between 2009 and 2025 without obtaining the mandatory certification required for his position.
Police stated that Jeffrey Wall was arrested on June 1 following an investigation that revealed he had allegedly never acquired the required Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL-A) nor completed the mandatory examinations necessary to serve as an airline captain.
Investigators allege that during this period, Wall operated various long-haul aircraft, including Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 models. Authorities estimate that he earned approximately CAD 3 million (more than USD 2 million) in salary while serving in the role.
According to police, Wall was legally qualified to operate commercial aircraft earlier in his aviation career. However, when he was promoted to the position of captain in 2009, he reportedly did not possess the ATPL-A certification, a mandatory requirement for that rank.
