Company Director Jailed Over £7m Airline Parts Fraud Scheme

Published: 24 February 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

A company director has been sentenced to prison after orchestrating a multi‑million‑pound airline parts fraud that undermined safety standards in the global aviation supply chain. Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, 38, was jailed for four years and eight months at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after admitting fraudulent trading in connection with the sale of almost £7 million worth of counterfeit aircraft engine parts.

Prosecutors described the scheme as a serious breach of trust that posed significant risks to passenger safety. Between 2019 and 2023, Zamora, acting as sole director of the now‑defunct AOG Technics Ltd, sold more than 60,000 aircraft components accompanied by forged Authorised Release Certificates (ARCs) — documentation required to prove airworthiness. The fraud generated approximately £7.7 million in revenue, of which the vast majority was derived from falsified activity.

Investigators found that the fake parts were often destined for CFM56 engines, the most widely used commercial aircraft powerplant, installed on Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family jets. The offensive components included engine blades, bolts, washers and other critical items that should have been covered by verifiable certification.

The fraud came to light in 2023 after an engineer at Portuguese airline TAP Air Portugal encountered a part that did not fit correctly. When the manufacturer was contacted to verify the associated certificate, it was confirmed to be fraudulent. This prompted aviation authorities in the UK, United States and European Union to issue safety alerts, leading to the grounding and inspection of aircraft worldwide to identify and remove suspect parts.

The serious disruption extended to major carriers. Airlines such as American Airlines, Ryanair and Ethiopian Airlines were among those affected, with documented financial losses estimated at more than £39 million due to replacement costs, grounded aircraft and related operational impacts.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) led the investigation, which revealed that Zamora had operated from a home office in Virginia Water, Surrey, manufacturing false certificates using doctored genuine documents alongside creations produced digitally. He also fabricated emails from fictitious staff to create the impression of a larger, legitimate business.

In mitigation, the defence acknowledged that Zamora had “cut corners” but argued he did not fully appreciate the consequences of his actions. The judge, however, described the offending as an “almost complete undermining” of aviation safety protocols designed to protect air travellers. In addition to his prison term, Zamora was banned from serving as a company director for eight years and will face proceedings under proceeds of crime laws.

Industry analysts said the case highlighted vulnerabilities in the aircraft parts supply chain, particularly among small broker companies that can be exploited to move unapproved components into service. Aviation regulators have responded by reviewing documentation standards and reinforcing mechanisms to verify parts authenticity.

The sentencing represents a significant enforcement success for the SFO and serves as a warning to other operators that falsifying documentation or engaging in fraudulent sales within highly regulated sectors can attract severe penalties.

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