A UK man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after selling 60,000 fake aircraft engine parts to airlines around the world, a case that shook the global aerospace supply chain.
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, 38, ran a company called AOG Technics from his home in the United Kingdom. Between 2019 and 2023, prosecutors said he used his computer to forge aviation safety compliance documents that made untraceable parts appear legitimate.
The parts were mainly designed for the CFM56 jet engine, one of the most widely used engines in aviation. It powers aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Investigators said about 90% of AOG Technics’ revenue came from parts sold with falsified certificates.
One Phone Call That Triggered a Global Probe
The fraud was uncovered in 2023 when a technician at TAP Air Portugal questioned the authenticity of a component and contacted the manufacturer.
The certificate turned out to be fake. That single phone call sparked a global investigation.
Regulators including the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority issued urgent safety alerts.
Airlines around the world were forced to ground aircraft and inspect engines for suspect parts.
Airlines Face $53 Million Industry Cost
Major carriers affected included American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, WestJet, and Virgin Australia. The industry-wide cost of inspections, engine teardowns, and grounded aircraft was estimated at $53 million.
American Airlines alone lost about $31 million, according to reports linked to the investigation.
No accidents were tied to the counterfeit components. But investigators said tens of thousands of parts with forged documentation were installed on aircraft carrying passengers every day.
The judge described the scheme as “a complete undermining of the regulatory framework designed to safeguard the millions of people who fly every day.”
The case highlights growing concerns over airline maintenance oversight and the vulnerability of the global aerospace supply chain.
Read also: Hawaiian Airlines to invest $600m in premium upgrades, airport infrastructure
