A former Air Canada pilot has been arrested in Canada for allegedly flying hundreds of commercial flights over nearly 17 years using fraudulent pilot credentials.

Peel Regional Police in Ontario said Geoffrey Wall, 59, has been charged following a four-month investigation into claims he operated flights without the required highest-level licence for airline captains.

Investigators allege Wall used falsified pilot documentation to command more than 900 domestic and international flights between 2009 and 2025, misleading both Air Canada and aviation regulators.

Police said Wall held a valid commercial pilot licence but did not have an airline transport pilot licence, which is required to captain commercial passenger aircraft.

He faces charges including fraud, uttering forged documents, possession of counterfeit trademarks and public mischief.

Authorities said the case raises serious concerns about oversight and trust in aviation safety systems.

Air Canada said the matter was treated with “utmost seriousness” and stressed that passenger safety was not compromised, noting that all pilots undergo regular training and flight checks.

The airline said Wall had met required training standards and demonstrated competency throughout his service, adding that it found no other cases of licence non-compliance after an internal audit.

Police said Wall had retired in 2025 before the alleged misconduct was uncovered. He has not publicly commented on the charges.

Officials described the case as rare but said it highlights potential weaknesses in licence verification processes within the aviation sector.