Police in the Greater Toronto Area say a former airline captain flew hundreds of flights without the required licence.
Peel Regional Police say that they will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. on Tuesday to detail the results of “Project Icarus.”
Few details are known about the probe, which police are describing as a “complex fraud” investigation.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich and Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca are among those expected to speak at the news conference.
Safety ‘not compromised,’ Air Canada says
In a statement, Air Canada assured safety was “not compromised by this incident” as all of its pilots “undergo mandatory recurrent training every six months to validate their flying competency, including a flight check with a certified Transport Canada check-pilot every 12 months.”
The company acknowledged that “appropriate licencing is an essential layer of the airline industry’s multi-layered approach to safety,” adding it takes this matter with “utmost seriousness.”
“Throughout his employment with Air Canada, the individual in question was a fully trained pilot who held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence, and he successfully met or exceeded the required recurrent training, demonstrating a high level of competency to safely operate large aircraft,” Air Canada noted.
The company did say that while the captain in question was trained to operate aircraft, they lacked a mandatory airline transport pilot licence, which is obtained by passing a series of written exams. This license is required for all captains of large aircraft operated by airlines in Canada.
Air Canada said upon discovering this oversight, it removed the individual from active duty and reported the matter to Transport Canada.
‘Ongoing investigation’
The Air Line Pilots Association, in a statement provided to CTV News on Monday, said the matter is subject to an “ongoing investigation.”
“The safety and security of the traveling public and our crews is our highest priority and always will be,” it notes.
“We take all regulatory and licensing requirements seriously and work to maintain the highest standards of safety, compliance, and professionalism across our industry.”
