How did an American fly nearly 120 times in six years without paying?

Was it worth the effort? Between 2018 and 2024, an American took advantage of a flaw in airport computer systems to get himself and his loved ones around a hundred free flights. A huge saving, for sure. But this scheme could cost him dearly: on Thursday, June 5, Tiron Alexander was found guilty by a Florida court of "wire fraud" and "unlawful entry into a secure area." For these charges, he faces up to 30 years in prison. His sentence is scheduled for August 25.

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So how did he do it? A press release from the Department of Justice dated Tuesday, June 10, reveals the details of his scheme. The 35-year-old Floridian, who has no training or experience in aviation, managed to pose as a flight attendant or airline pilot for several airlines.

To do this, he booked his tickets on a website dedicated to crew members. To access this platform and benefit from this free service, he obviously had to provide several pieces of information: a company, a badge number, and a hiring date. According to the court document, the Floridian managed to travel 34 times with one airline by claiming to work for seven other companies, using 30 different badge numbers and fictitious hiring dates. The system's lack of oversight and verification allowed him to be systematically accepted.

"The evidence presented at trial also demonstrated that Alexander posed as a flight attendant on three other airlines. Ultimately, Alexander booked more than 120 free flights while posing as a flight attendant," the Justice Department wrote. He also allegedly shared these benefits with his family and friends. Because he was in possession of highly specific tickets, Tiron Alexander is also accused of traveling to airport areas off-limits to the general public. However, no details were provided on how he was unmasked.