By Peter.
A pilot has been accused of forging credentials to secure a captain’s role at Lithuanian carrier Avion Express, where he flew hundreds of passengers across Europe despite lacking the required qualifications.
The individual—whose name has not been released—had previously served only as a co-pilot with Garuda Indonesia, according to reports.
Avion Express, a wet-lease operator that supplies aircraft and full crews to other airlines, confirmed employing the pilot and has since terminated his position.
“The company recently became aware of unverified information regarding his professional experience. An internal investigation was immediately launched and is currently ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
The airline emphasized that its recruitment processes comply with aviation regulations and that “safety and compliance remain our highest priorities.”
Through Avion Express, the pilot also operated flights for other Western European carriers, including Germany’s Eurowings.
Eurowings stated it is “reviewing the matter with our safety experts for a detailed examination.”
Founded in 2005, Avion Express operates charter flights to Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. It is part of the Avia Solutions Group, a Lithuanian-owned conglomerate headquartered in Ireland.
The airline’s fleet comprises 55 Airbus A320-family aircraft, each capable of carrying up to 180 passengers.
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