A former Air Canada pilot has been charged with operating more than 900 flights without the required license over 16 years.
Geoffrey Wall, 59, of Barrie, Ontario, is accused of serving as an airline captain from 2009 until his retirement in 2025 without holding an airline transport pilot license. He possessed a valid commercial pilot license but allegedly used fraudulent documents to misrepresent his credentials to Air Canada and Transport Canada. Peel Regional Police launched an investigation called Project Icarus in January after Transport Canada reviewed the case. Investigators said Wall piloted flights domestically and internationally and earned about 2.9 million Canadian dollars during that period. He also filed a false police report claiming pilot documentation had been stolen. Air Canada stated that safety was not compromised because all pilots undergo mandatory recurrent training and flight checks. The airline removed the pilot from duty once the issue was discovered, and he is no longer employed. Transport Canada fined him for lacking the correct license. Deputy police chief Nick Milinovich compared the case to a doctor performing brain surgery without proper qualifications. Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said the government would review the matter to ensure improvements if needed.