Fraud involving frequent flyer points is incredibly common, and all too often, people don’t get caught, and don’t face punishment. Well, here’s the other extreme (thanks to View from the Wing for flagging this)…
In this post:
Stolen identity causes major airline security response
This incident happened on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and centers around Air Canada flight AC833, scheduled from Brussels (BRU) to Montreal (YUL). The flight was operated by the Star Alliance carrier’s highest capacity plane, the high density Boeing 777-300ER, featuring a staggering 450 seats.
Long story short, around 12PM Montreal time, a national security protocol was triggered, over something that happened on another flight. A traveler had attempted to board another Air Canada flight, only to have an alert come up in the system, indicating that this person was already onboard another Air Canada flight (the above transatlantic one).
As you might have guessed, something didn’t add up here. It was determined that the person trying to board was using their real identity, meaning that the person on the transatlantic flight must’ve been someone else. As it turns out, the passenger on the flight had stolen not only the identity, but also the Aeroplan points, of the other traveler.
The situation was deemed serious enough to trigger a security procedure involving the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), so two fighter jets escorted the 777 all the way to Montreal.
After landing, sniffer dogs and explosives technicians were called in to examine the traveler and his bags, but no threat was detected. The suspect was arrested and then questioned by the police, and was eventually released with a summons.
Hah, this isn’t usually how these situations play out
As I see it, there are two separate stories here — the identity theft and then the stealing of points. To me the former is more unusual than the latter.
One certainly wonders how someone was able to steal someone else’s identity on a transatlantic flight. Passport verification is required at the immigration checkpoint on departure and to board the plane, so did he have fake documents, or did he have another sneaky plan I’m not thinking of?
Then there’s the whole topic of points being stolen. There’s a massive underground industry of bartering points, which typically violates the rules of loyalty programs, but isn’t necessarily illegal in many jurisdictions.
So if this all did truly arise in part because of stolen Aeroplan points, then, well, this has to be one of the most uncomfortable ways that I’ve ever heard of something like this playing out.
Keep in mind that often the people traveling on tickets using stolen points don’t even realize it. They might just buy their ticket online through what they believe is a consolidator, when in reality, someone is booking the ticket with stolen points, and passing it off as a legitimate ticket.
I don’t know what this guy’s situation was, and the fact that the points were stolen adds an unusual angle to this. That being said, imagine thinking you’ve purchased a legitimate ticket online, only to end up on a flight being escorted by fighter jets, and realizing you’re the reason for them. Ouch.
Bottom line
An Air Canada flight from Brussels to Montreal had a dramatic ending, when two fighter jets had to escort the plane on arrival because one passenger was traveling with a stolen identity, on a ticket booked with stolen Aeroplan points. Upon landing, all of his luggage was searched, and he was arrested.
It’s not that unusual for people to travel with a stolen identity, or on a ticket booked with stolen points, but both at the same time is rather rare.
What do you make of this Air Canada fighter jet escort story?
A summons? After all that, not an arrest and charge? Wow Canada!
How does this make sense that someone from a source across the Atlantic arrived in Canada using a false ID and they weren't immediately deported back to where they came from???
Something is really off about this story.
Due process? Naw, summary execution! /s
If it was a Canadian citizen they can't be deported.
So instead of throwing their arse in jail they released them with a summons.
No wonder scams and stolen identity frauds are multi-billion$ industries.
Oh please.....silly comment
Damn, that has to be the most click-baitey title I've ever seen from OMAAT.
The stolen Aeroplan points had nothing to do with the jet escort.
C'mon now.
Whining because you’re butt hurt over an article headline *you* felt was click-bait is such a beta male thing to moan about. Go touch some grass
I dont understand why the plane took off if they gate agents noted the issue during the boarding process?
Reading is your problem at school.
I think the fact that you felt the need to respond like this says a lot more about you than me. I missed a detail in a story that I read quickly. But in your case, instead of being helpful, and saying, hey, maybe you missed the fact that it was two separate flights, you decided that you just HAD to be a condescending dick.
Nope, I pointed out that if you did read properly you would find an answer.
You read quickly and missed an important point. Ergo, Reading is your problem at school.
All that and the person was released with a summons. Just verifies my suspicion that most of the "security" is a scam and con.
Canada is a super liberal left-wing country without a functioning criminal justice system. Even if you murder someone in cold blood it's highly unlikely that you'll face any punitive actions. I'm not even sure there are correctional facilities in Canada.
450 seats on a 777 with 6 lavs.
Is there a worse airline than Air Canada?
The seat map shows 10!
https://www.aerolopa.com/ac-77w-2
"One certainly wonders how someone was able to steal someone else’s identity on a transatlantic flight. Passport verification is required at the immigration checkpoint on departure and to board the plane, so did he have fake documents, or did he have another sneaky plan I’m not thinking of?"
I won't go into details publicly and I don't know Brussels Airport well, but I can tell that it isn't very hard, for someone who wants it,...
"One certainly wonders how someone was able to steal someone else’s identity on a transatlantic flight. Passport verification is required at the immigration checkpoint on departure and to board the plane, so did he have fake documents, or did he have another sneaky plan I’m not thinking of?"
I won't go into details publicly and I don't know Brussels Airport well, but I can tell that it isn't very hard, for someone who wants it, at some European airports to board with a ticket which isn't on your name.
Completely agree with TDG's point — this person entered Canada with no verified real identity and that alone should be disqualifying. What's even more alarming is that they were simply released back into our society. Who are they really? Why Canada? And what are they doing right now? The fighter jets and the arrest made headlines, but a summons doesn't make our communities safer. This bad actor is now walking freely among us — and...
Completely agree with TDG's point — this person entered Canada with no verified real identity and that alone should be disqualifying. What's even more alarming is that they were simply released back into our society. Who are they really? Why Canada? And what are they doing right now? The fighter jets and the arrest made headlines, but a summons doesn't make our communities safer. This bad actor is now walking freely among us — and that raises far more questions than this story has answered.
"this person entered Canada with no verified real identity"
No, they didn't. No more so then if I hop in a rental car headed toward Canada after telling Avis I'm someone I'm not.
There's an assumption here that the man used a false passport. However, names are not unique, so he could just have the same name and found he could access the other person's Aeroplan, which having used Aeroplan is wholly unsurpirising.
Names are not unique but passport numbers are, and it is passport numbers that airlines use for international flights.
Time will tell, of course, but the fact that the person was using not just someone else's miles to book ticket in his real name - but also was traveling using the miles owner name makes it unlikely that he is just an innocent victim..
It's extremely curious and concerning... All the passengers who board Canada-bound TPAC or TATL flights undergo additional passport and boarding card verifications BEFORE they can lineup at the gate for the boarding procedure s. It's mostly to make sure all the passengers have proper documentation to enter Canada, in case they're not Canadian citizens.
"It’s not that unusual for people to travel with a stolen identity..."
Really? What are the data on this?
two fighter jets "had to" escort the plane? Nonsense.
Impersonating other person is a much more serious security threat than a intoxicated thug using the N word.
Yet they didn't divert.
Because they're not on a power trip.
They assessed the threat and act accordingly.
Power trip diversions because crew is unrealistically threatened by something that is not a real threat NEEDS TO END and be held accountable for overreacting.
Seems like the airlines need to be cleared in advance to dump fraudsters out over the ocean. Problem solved.
You really wouldn’t want to be THAT person