- A Florida man who was once a flight attendant posed as one to ebook free flights via a number of airways. On June 5, a federal jury convicted Tiron Alexander of wire fraud and getting into a safe space of an airport by false pretenses. Alexander had about 30 completely different badge numbers and dates of rent he used to ebook the free flights.
One man was seemingly so fed up with the price of airline tickets he developed a scheme to get them totally free. On June 5, a federal jury convicted Tiron Alexander, 35, of wire fraud and getting into a safe space of an airport by false pretenses, in line with an announcement by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida.
From 2018 to 2024, Alexander booked free flights on an airline service’s web site that ought to have been accessible solely to pilots and flight attendants, in line with courtroom paperwork and proof offered at trial. Alexander flew on 34 flights with out paying for them by posing as a flight attendant who labored for different airways, in line with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace.
Through the 34 flights, Alexander claimed via the airline service’s web site utility course of he labored for seven airways and had about 30 completely different badge numbers and dates of rent. The applying course of requires customers to pick whether or not they’re a pilot or flight attendant and supply their employer, date of rent, and badge quantity.
In line with submitted proof, Alexander was a worldwide ticketing assist consultant for Delta Air Strains from 2010 to 2012 and a flight attendant for Atlantic Southeast Airways from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, he briefly labored as a flight attendant for Republic Airways.
Trial proof additionally confirmed Alexander had posed as a flight attendant on three different airways, and he had finally booked greater than 120 free flights by claiming he was a flight attendant, in line with the announcement.
The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida declined Fortune’s request for remark, and Alexander’s protection legal professionals didn’t reply.
The Transportation Safety Administration investigated the case. The TSA advised Fortune it was “pleased to receive a guilty verdict on all five counts against Tiron Alexander.”
“While Alexander was able to board flights by fraudulently obtaining a boarding pass, he underwent all applicable TSA security procedures, including ID verification and physical screening, and did not pose a threat to other airline passengers,” a TSA spokesperson advised Fortune. “TSA remains dedicated to the security of the flying public and will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws.”
The incidents occurred on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport, in line with the indictment obtained by Fortune. The indictment doesn’t identify the airways via which Alexander booked his flights, however screenshots of his bookings point out he used Spirit Airways. The indictment additionally stated Alexander booked on an airline based mostly in Miramar, Fla., which matches Spirit Airways, and one other based mostly in Dallas, Texas.
Spirit Airways declined to touch upon the case.
U.S. District Choose Jacqueline Becerra is scheduled to condemn Alexander on Aug. 25.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
