A former Air Canada captain has been charged after Peel Regional Police alleged he flew hundreds of domestic and international flights over many years without holding the required airline transport pilot licence. Air Canada says the former pilot was trained, held a commercial pilot licence, and was removed from active duty when the issue was discovered.

A former Air Canada captain has been charged after police alleged he flew hundreds of flights using fraudulent licensing documents.

Peel Regional Police said the allegations involve a former pilot who had a 27-year career with Air Canada. Investigators allege that, for 17 years, the pilot captained more than 900 domestic and international flights carrying tens of thousands of passengers.

Police said the issue involved the absence of an airline transport pilot licence, also known as an ATPL, which is required for captains of large passenger aircraft operated by airlines in Canada.

The investigation began in January after Transport Canada informed Peel police about the results of a regulatory investigation. Police said that probe was triggered by an incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport in March 2025 during an operational evaluation, where credential and performance anomalies were detected in licence documentation that had been presented.

Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich alleged that the pilot misrepresented his qualifications to both his employer and the regulator. Police also alleged that the pilot attempted to conceal the issue through a false police report.

The police investigation reviewed the pilot’s career from 1998 until his retirement in 2025.

Air Canada said in a statement that the individual was a fully trained pilot who held a valid commercial pilot licence and met or exceeded required recurrent training. The airline said safety was not compromised because its pilots undergo mandatory recurrent training every six months, including flight checks with certified Transport Canada check pilots every 12 months.

However, Air Canada also said appropriate licensing is an essential part of the airline industry’s safety framework. The airline said the individual, who had been promoted to captain, lacked the mandatory ATPL for that position. Air Canada said he was removed from active duty immediately after the issue was discovered and that the company voluntarily reported the matter to Transport Canada.

Air Canada added that it has found no other instances of non-compliance among its pilots.

Transport Canada imposed a monetary penalty on the pilot. Police said the pilot earned more than $2.9 million in salary.

The accused, 59-year-old Barrie resident Geoffrey Wall, was arrested on June 1. He has been charged with fraud over $5,000, two counts of uttering a forged document, three counts of possession of a counterfeit mark, and public mischief.

Police said Wall did hold a commercial pilot licence and had also held several positions with the Air Canada Pilots Association, including chair of the Master Executive Council.

Georgian College confirmed that Wall was a part-time employee of the college, but said it would not comment further because the matter remains an active criminal investigation and any employment status issues are an employment matter.

Wall is scheduled to appear in court on June 29. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The case highlights the importance of credential verification in regulated industries where licensing requirements are not merely administrative, but part of a broader safety and compliance framework. Even where an individual has training and experience, the required licence category remains a central legal requirement for holding certain positions.

The case also raises questions about how long-term credential issues can go undetected within major organizations, particularly where employees hold senior or trusted positions.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.