Remember that story about the 18 year old who wanted to start a German airline to compete with Lufthansa, and claimed to have plans to launch before the end of 2023? Well, as it turns out, he’s allegedly not even 18… but he is serious, in the sense that this wasn’t some school project. Now…
Continue reading: 15-Year-Old(!!!) German Airline Founder Accused Of Fraud
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Shocked! Shocked, I say!
"Maybe I should post those here, since I imagine they were doctored as well?"
YES
Hi Ben. Yes it would be very much appreciated if you could post those documents that he sent to you. I'm sure everyone's itching to know what he sent you
Pivoting to small German airline that actually exists, will you be reviewing Rhein-Neckar Air anytime soon. They have several route but only one (1!) plane, and are the only commercial service out of Mannheim. I'm considering flying them to Sylt this summer when the Lindner there officially joins WOH.
Adem Karagöz https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/teenage-founder-bavarian-airlines-shares-ambitious-plans
Old enough to defraud people. Old enough to do time.
"This whole thing sounds like the plot of a movie I’d totally watch."
Ben, I'm quite sure they are already working on it in Hollywood.
That guy should be rewarded for what he achieved, like you mentioned, it's amazing how stupid people can "invest" money in something they don't even know.
Who does this Doogie Howser of the skies think he is? Hilarious. And those investors ... wow the brains.
Isn't Anna Delvey from Germany as well? Plot is different, but similar type of deception.
It's not surprising that the German media fell for this, given how the media closed ranks around Wirecard.
Though given how the German financial regulators closed ranks to protect Wirecard, perhaps it's just that fraud isn't really a crime in Germany.
I think this kid should move to the US, marry an American woman to get his citizenship, and then run as a Republican for a House of Representatives seat in New York State. Next thing you know he is the Vice President of the US.
Where have I heard this story before? Oh yes! Anna Sorokin.
What was it that PT Barnum said about the birth rate of suckers?
When can we stop all these age discrimination.
Give different treatments to people under 18 or over 65?
Why should seniors get discounts and juveniles get away with murder?
Time for us (especially Americans?) to "woke" on this.
I'm sure if this fraud was from a 35 year old the story would be completely different. Why would a 15 year old tell the truth and start lying on the 18th birthday. Isn't children good story tellers?
Go ask George Santos', or whatever his name is, childhood friend what age did he start telling stories.
Sounds like the German media wasn't stupid; they just didn't care about the truth of the story.'
If it's true, they broke a story about a teen airline founder.
If it's false, they now have another story about how the teen is a scammer.
Well, I am red faced. I actually questioned Ben on why he felt this was so sketchy and posted a comment that it seemed like an interesting concept. It certainly seemed far more legitimate than the other absurd start ups that have been posted here.
The kid, despite his crimes and the many fraudulent things he did, had some unique ideas. At least he didn't start with plans to operate A380's on thin routes. Maybe one of the investors should just take the basics of his concept and run with it on their own.
You dumb-ass. Children and adults are different (duh!). Hence the different approaches.
You're right. If a baby or toddle bites me, we should be able to take the baby to court and throw him/her in prison.
If he were 13, he would be under the age to be held criminally responsible in Germany. Between 14 and 18 years of age, it’s the juvenile criminal justice system for him. He’s lucky he’s not in the US, as the juvenile criminal justice system in the US is much more likely to make for hardened career criminals than Germany.
Can we just stick to issues that affect my points and miles strategy. I thought that is what this blog was about rather than a travel news site.
How do you know that? Or do you just assume because of the name? As if someone with a turkish name could not be german and bavarian!
It's amazing how the aviation industry is just a magnet for scams. Not sure if you are aware Ben but Italy has a new airline, AeroItalia, and whilst it does have actually planes and is flying it does feel a bit off especially with its erratic strop-start scheduling and deeply odd base at Forli Airport of all places...
She is a russian who grew up in Germany.
And the boy from the story above is also not German, but from Turkey.
Sadly the German government in recent years has been way to lax in admitting people into the country. And also too lax to send back criminals. It’s only getting worse, now they’re also planning to hand out German citizenships like free candy.
"Is it wrong that I don't feel bad"
Yes it is. This kid obviously forged some significant legal documentation to convince others he was legit. The law should not be lenient on him, in New Zealand right now we have a huge problem with Ram raiding because the law is too lenient on people under 18. We have children groomed to do crimes 2 or 3 times before any sort of significant punishment is done. This kid needs to be given the full extent of the law to put off any 17 year olds from committing fraud.
"Next, the kid showed documents that he has three million Swiss francs in his business account, but claimed the account was frozen. Therefore he asked an investor to finance around 45,000 euro worth of flights, hotel stays, and business dinners, which haven’t yet been paid back."
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL imagine being a fully grown adult, and getting scammed by a 15yo LOL LOL LOL.
The German society originally is a high trust society. Foreign transplants such as this Turk or the russian Anna Sorokin sadly have destroyed this high-trust society more and more.
"Next, the kid showed documents that he has three million Swiss francs in his business account, but claimed the account was frozen." And I have just discovered that you are the primary inheritor name in the will of a recently deceased Nigerian prince. If you would kindly wire $150,000 to my account for the payment of various fees...
Of course, Socialists are always looking to import new victims to trade handouts for votes...until it all implodes when they run out of OPM and society implodes. Same thing is happening here.
Well, of course it's all about you isn't it? It must be very difficult to skip over the posts you are not interested in.
"I don't like it, so neither should you". Such a republican response.
So the little shit will get no actual punishment due to his age and no doubt go on to be nothing but a professional scammer
"I don’t want to ruin his life more than he already has."
Why not? He deserves it.
The kid committed fraud, sure.
But anyone stupid enough to invest in a business with such little substance clearly didn't bother with even the most basic due diligence, and should write off this loss as an expensive lesson in being an investor
There will be some serious consequences without doubt, but serious questions of anyone who invested in this "business" have to be asked.
How stupid can you be?
Truly a brain-dead comment
Legal definitions of adults and children exist for a reason.
The prison system is failing if recidivism among teenage criminals is so high, not the legal definition of child and adult.
He's Swiss-Estonian apparently
Not very hard to google instead of just posting?