Fake Qantas engineer jailed

[noelbaba]

AFP
SYDNEY — A bogus aircraft engineer accused of putting thousands of Qantas passengers’ lives at risk has been jailed for more than three years by an Australian court.


Timothy McCormack forged his qualifications and posed as a licensed aircraft engineer for nearly nine months, checking planes leaving Sydney Airport, before being exposed in July 2007, the court heard.

The 27-year-old, described by his defence lawyer as a pathological liar, pleaded guilty — and then faked four character references for the court as it considered his sentence.

Prosecutor Paul McGuire told the New South Wales district court McCormack became entangled in a web of deceit that could have had "catastrophic" consequences for Qantas passengers flying out of Sydney.

"The potential that arose because an unqualified and failed engineer was carrying out significant work to major systems on an international aircraft directly put at risk the lives of 12,000 people," he said.

Judge Mark Marien noted that McCormack, as a supervising engineer, had been checking the work of other junior engineers working on passenger planes.

"Not only was the degree of the offender’s course of conduct extreme, but the offender conceded that the potential consequences of that course of conduct might have been catastrophic," the judge said.

He sentenced McCormack to three years and five months in prison.

[AIRWAY]

Good ridance.

The world does not need these type of characters, unfortunately time flies and he will be out in no time.

[alfaman]

described by his defence lawyer as a pathological liar, pleaded guilty — and then faked four character references for the court as it considered his sentence.

which kind of proves the point...! What a scary muppet.

[airsupport]

Very old news, see thread on D+G.

[TheGorrilla]

Catch me if you can????

[Intruder]

He only used the faked credentials for jumpseating. He never attempted to fly an airplane -- just the stewardesses... :=

[Loose rivets]

But the similarity ends there. Presumably the engineer worked quite hard, whereas Frank Abagnale Jr. seemed to surround himself with beautiful girls, and lead the good life.

[TheGorrilla]

Well? I kind of hope he didn't work hard. I would also pray he knew what he was doing for the sake of all involved.

[moist]

"The potential that arose because an unqualified and failed engineer was carrying out significant work to major systems on an international aircraft directly put at risk the lives of 12,000 people," he said.


What on earth (or in the air) is an International Aircraft? :ouch:

[MD11Engineer]

Years ago, when I was working for a now long bankrupt company, we had a line station in Liege, Belgium, handling the N-registered BAE 146 fleet of a wellknown cargo carrier.
The station manager (and senior engineer) got caught, but only after a major f#ck up) with a forged FAA A&P licence (from what I know (I was based at a different station at this time), he used his brother's licence number, so that, if you looked at the FAA website, at least the family names agreed).
He got caught after one morning a crew found a wheel chock in an engine intake, with several fan blades bent. The scrote still tried to blame it on an innocent unlicenced mechanic, but security camera footage revealed that he threw a wheel chock into the fan to stop it from windmilling to carry out an inspection.
After this incident he got fired and his credentials scrutinized, when it was found that his licence was all bogus. Afaik, he served some time in a Belgian jail.
From what I understand, this guy (a Britisher) was hired by our old boss at a time when the companywas desperately looking for staff and as an upstart had to take what they could find. Not that our ex-boss was too scrupelous in obeying the law. AFAIK, he is wanted in Germany for fraud and, after he bankrupted the company, he f*cked off never to be seen again, owing the staff and other creditors a lot of money (including myself). We assume that he over the years quietly syphoned off company money and government subsidies (for creating jobs in a high unemployment region) and transfered the money to accounts in overseas tax havens.

[rmm]

What on earth (or in the air) is an International Aircraft?

I think the media are referring to the fact that he worked on QF's international fleet as opposed to it's domestic fleet.

[Bootcamp]

described by his defence lawyer as a pathological liar, pleaded guilty —


So he was in fact not guilty!?

[KAG]

What on earth (or in the air) is an International Aircraft? http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/shiner.gif


747, 380, 340? Never saw those flying domestic...;)

[sled dog]

Sounds like the Brit Atlas engineer based at ellx that was fired , after signing off a tail strike repair, when it was discovered the A & P number he had been using actually belonged to a long deceased American :eek:

[Noxegon]

747, 380, 340? Never saw those flying domestic...http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/wink2.gif

Eh, I've certainly seen 747s on domestic routes in Japan...

[Avman]

Eh, I've certainly seen 747s on domestic routes in Japan...

Yep, and the USA too.

MD11 Engineer, interesting story, but I'm curious and can't remember N registered BAe 146s in Liege. Not saying you're wrong, just have no recollection of such - at least since 1972.

[LambOfGod]

747, 380, 340? Never saw those flying domestic...;)

Qantas 747, Sydney - Perth;)

[JW411]

TNT have never ever operated N-registered BAe146s in Liege or anywhere else for that matter.

[doubleu-anker]

Reminds me of a case, decades ago.

This guy always wanted to be a surgeon/doctor type. Unfortunately he never quite made the grade so became a butcher instead but a frustrated Dr. none the less. To cut a long story short he managed to get hold of documents of a not long deceased Dr. relative of the same surname. He managed to get into a casualty department of some hospital and carried out quiet a few "successful" operations before his lies were uncovered. This is dingkum!! :E

[Avman]

He managed to get into a casualty department of some hospital and carried out quiet a few "successful" operations

Amputations probably :E

[Storminnorm]

You're ribbing of course!

[ericferret]

Reminds me of a phone call a friend of mine received.

Hi Mike what date did you leave the company.

I left on the 6th of October, why?

Well you signed for a compass swing on the 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a UK company operating about 15 aircraft now defuct.

Interestingly I came across one of their ex fleet aircraft a few years later.
Going through component log cards it became apparent that several had serial numbers that were in a different type face from the original. Clearly bogus parts with falsified documentation.

[Finn47]

Another fake Qantas engineer based in Sydney discovered during audit:

Qantas sacks fake engineer (http://www.watoday.com.au/travel/qantas-sacks-fake-engineer-20090206-7zza.html)

[Electrican]

What is with these people. They seriously need some sort of medical help. They obviously dont have any self esteem. They have to lie to get the job they want.. They cant be happy with what they have that they have to rob genuinly qualified citizens of these high paying positions. Makes you wonder what other lies they have spun to fullfil their lives..

I too, know someome who has forged an Electrical Licence in Western Australia. He has been working as an Electrician for 5 years on a mining site. Despite his employer been made aware of it, he is still employed with the company. Obviously he has spun a few lies to them to keep him on... despite many miners loosing their jobs due to the economic crisis.

I praise Qantas for taking action against him... More companies need to follow suit...

[BrissySparkyCoit]

Praise Qantas for taking action againsed him??? Qantas is to blame for allowing this to happen in the first place! Please have a read through the various threads on this topic. Cut backs have brought about new procedures which have made it simple for these people to pass through un-noticed.