Project Icarus: Former Air Canada Captain Arrested for Allegedly Flying Over 900 Flights Without Licence
Region of Peel – Investigators with the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau have arrested and charged a former Air Canada captain following a four-month fraud and forgery investigation.
In January 2026, a criminal investigation, known as Project Icarus, was launched after Transport Canada initiated a regulatory review into the licensing credentials and conduct of a commercial airline captain.
The subsequent police investigation revealed that the accused allegedly used fraudulent pilot licences during his career and service as a captain.
Through the execution of a residential search warrant and other judicial authorizations, investigators obtained evidence indicating the accused allegedly deceived both his employer, Air Canada, and the federal civil aviation regulator, Transport Canada.
The accused retired from Air Canada in 2025 after a 27-year career, prior to the initiation of both the regulatory and criminal investigations. Between 2009 and 2025, he was assigned to more than 900 domestic and international flights as a captain and earned over $2.9 million in salary.
On June 1, 2026, 59-year-old Geoffrey Wall, of Barrie, Ont., was arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Fraud Over $5,000
- Uttering Forged Documents x2
- Possession of Counterfeit Mark x3
- Public Mischief
Records indicate that while Wall possessed a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL-A), he did not hold the required Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL-A) necessary to operate aircraft, including a Boeing 777, as a captain.
Throughout his career, Wall also held several positions with the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA), including serving as Chair of the Master Executive Council, the governing body of the ACPA.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact investigators with the Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335. Anonymous information may also be submitted by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
QUOTES
“This case is deeply concerning and strikes at the heart of public trust and safety, as the accused is alleged to have put hundreds of thousands of passengers at risk across more than 900 domestic and international flights. I want to recognize our investigators for their hard work throughout this complex investigation, as well as Transport Canada and Air Canada for their cooperation. Peel Regional Police remains committed to protecting the public and holding individuals accountable for their actions.”
— Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police
