Director Jailed 4 Years For £7 Million Fake Aircraft Parts Fraud

A company director was jailed for almost 5 years for selling £7 million of fake aircraft parts. This is a serious crime that put planes and passengers at risk.
By Newsroom | Crime, Aviation |

A company director, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for orchestrating a fraud involving the sale of nearly £7 million worth of counterfeit aircraft engine parts. His scheme, which ran from 2019 to 2023, involved supplying thousands of fake parts, with forged authenticity certificates, for use in the CFM56 engine, a widely used component in aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The fraud led to planes being grounded and parts being sold to major airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, Tui, and Ryanair. Zamora Yrala has also been banned from acting as a company director for eight years.

Company director jailed over £7m airline parts fraud - 1

Scheme Details and Reach

Zamora Yrala operated his company, AOG Technics, from his home in Virginia Water, Surrey. He purchased aircraft engine components, including blades, bolts, and washers, and then used his home computer to create fake documentation. These fraudulent documents, known as authorised release certificates (ARCs), purported to show the origin and authenticity of the parts.

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  • AOG Technics supplied tens of thousands of components globally.

  • The parts were sold directly to airlines, maintenance and repair firms, and other aircraft parts brokers.

  • Prosecutors stated Zamora Yrala produced fake documents to suggest the provenance of the parts.

  • The total value of the fraudulent sales is estimated at nearly £7 million.

  • Zamora Yrala admitted to forging over 60,000 authenticity certificates.

Detection and Consequences

The fraud was uncovered when a part supplied by AOG Technics to the Portuguese airline TAP failed to fit an engine. This incident triggered an investigation, leading to Zamora Yrala's arrest and prosecution.

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  • Zamora Yrala was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

  • He received a jail sentence of four years and eight months.

  • He is disqualified from serving as a company director for eight years.

  • The production and sale of aircraft parts are subject to strict regulations.

Evidence of Fraudulent Activity

Skype messages between Zamora Yrala and an individual named Almeida reportedly discussed forging documents. Zamora Yrala was noted to have "identified and exploited the trust" purchasers placed in the authenticity certificates.

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  • Zamora Yrala admitted to one count of fraudulent trading in December.

  • He was operating from his garage, acquiring engine parts and then falsifying their documentation for resale.

  • AOG Technics sold 5,627 individual parts with false documentation to Ethiopian Airlines for approximately £1.1 million. These included seals, bushings, vanes, bolts, and washers.

Company Structure and Operational Scope

The court heard that the number of employees at AOG Technics was unclear, with only Zamora Yrala, his then-wife, her brother, and the family nanny ever listed on the payroll. This suggests a small, closely controlled operation focused on the fraudulent activity.

  • The company's operational structure appears minimal, centered around Zamora Yrala.

  • The demand for specific aircraft parts at particular times can create profitable opportunities for small broker companies.

  • It remains unclear, based on the provided evidence, when Zamora Yrala's actions would have been discovered if the faulty part had not been flagged.

Expert Analysis

While specific expert opinions are not detailed in the provided summaries, the case highlights the critical importance of regulatory compliance and robust verification processes within the aviation industry. The potential for safety compromise when counterfeit parts enter the supply chain is a significant concern, and the prosecution underscores the penalties for such offenses.

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Conclusion and Implications

Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala's conviction and sentencing demonstrate the serious legal repercussions for engaging in fraudulent practices within the highly regulated aviation sector. The scheme's reach, involving a key engine component for widely used commercial aircraft, underscores the potential for widespread impact. The reliance on forged documents and the exploitation of industry trust were central to the fraud.

The investigation and subsequent legal action were initiated following the detection of a faulty part. The duration of the fraud suggests that effective oversight mechanisms were bypassed. The disqualification from directorship aims to prevent similar activities in the future.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala jailed?
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala was jailed for four years and eight months for a £7 million fraud. He sold fake aircraft engine parts with false papers between 2019 and 2023.
Q: How much money was involved in the fake aircraft parts fraud?
The fraud involved nearly £7 million. Zamora Yrala sold thousands of fake parts, including blades and bolts, to airlines and repair companies.
Q: Which airlines bought fake aircraft parts from AOG Technics?
Airlines like Ethiopian Airlines, Tui, and Ryanair bought fake parts. Ethiopian Airlines bought over 5,000 fake parts for about £1.1 million.
Q: How was the fake aircraft parts fraud discovered?
The fraud was found when a fake part supplied by Zamora Yrala's company, AOG Technics, did not fit an engine on a plane owned by TAP Air Portugal. This led to an investigation.
Q: What are the consequences for Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala besides jail?
Besides his jail sentence, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala is banned from being a company director for eight years. This stops him from doing similar business in the future.