This article summarizes reporting by Fox News and official filings from Southwark Crown Court.

AOG Technics Director Sentenced to Prison for Massive Fake Parts Scheme

A former techno DJ turned aviation parts supplier has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that infiltrated the global aviation supply chain with thousands of unverified components. According to reporting by Fox News and court records released this week, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, the founder of AOG Technics, pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading after admitting to selling over 60,000 Commercial-Aircraft parts backed by forged safety documents.

The sentencing at Southwark Crown Court in London marks the conclusion of a scandal that grounded aircraft worldwide and cost the aviation industry an estimated £39.3 million ($53 million). The fraud specifically targeted the CFM56 engine, the most widely used commercial jet engine in the world, raising urgent questions about the vulnerability of regulatory frameworks that rely heavily on paper documentation.

The “Garage” Operation That Fooled the World

Prosecutors revealed that between January 2019 and July 2023, Zamora Yrala operated AOG Technics from his home in Virginia Water, Surrey. Despite presenting the company as a legitimate global supplier, the operation was run almost entirely by Zamora Yrala using a laptop and graphic design software.

According to court findings, the defendant forged Authorised Release Certificates (ARCs), which are critical documents guaranteeing a part’s airworthiness and origin. He utilized two primary methods to deceive buyers:

• Alteration: Modifying genuine certificates from other suppliers to match his inventory.
• Fabrication: Creating entirely fake documents using software to mimic official regulatory forms.

To maintain the illusion of a large-scale enterprise, Zamora Yrala invented fictitious employees, including non-existent sales and quality managers, to sign emails and documents. Prosecutors noted that approximately 90% of the business conducted by AOG Technics was fraudulent, generating £6.9 million ($9 million) in revenue for the firm.

Global Fallout and Safety Risks

The fraudulent parts were primarily small components such as bolts, washers, and seals. While these are not major rotating parts like turbine blades, aviation experts warn that their failure could still lead to significant safety hazards, including oil leaks or engine shutdowns.

The scheme unraveled in 2023 due to the diligence of an engineer at TAP Air Portugal. Suspicious of a part’s documentation, the engineer contacted the manufacturer, Safran, for verification. Safran confirmed the certificate was a forgery, triggering a chain reaction across the industry.

Following the discovery, major regulators including the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued urgent safety alerts. This forced airlines to ground fleets and inspect engines for the suspect parts.

Financial and Operational Impact

The cost of the fraud extended far beyond the purchase price of the fake parts. Airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair, and Ethiopian Airlines were forced to remove aircraft from service to replace components. The total financial damage, covering grounded flights, replacement hardware, and engineering labor, is estimated at £39.3 million.

Judge Simon Picken remarked that the defendant’s actions represented a “more or less complete undermining” of the regulatory framework designed to protect passenger safety.

Defense and Sentencing

During the proceedings, Zamora Yrala’s defense attorney argued that the former DJ did not fully appreciate the catastrophic potential of his actions, suggesting he merely “cut corners.” However, the prosecution emphasized the sophistication of the forgeries and the deliberate nature of the deception over a four-year period.

Ultimately, the court handed down a sentence of four years and eight months. The case has served as a wake-up call for the industry, highlighting how easily a single individual could bypass safety checks that rely on trust and static documentation.

AirPro News Analysis

The Vulnerability of “Paper Trust”

While the sentencing of Zamora Yrala closes the chapter on AOG Technics, it opens a wider debate about the antiquated nature of aviation supply chain verification. The fact that a “garage operation” could introduce 60,000 parts into the global fleet using Photoshop highlights a critical weakness: the industry still relies heavily on PDF and paper-based Authorised Release Certificates (ARCs) that are easily forged.

We anticipate this case will accelerate the push toward digital immutability in aviation maintenance. Technologies such as blockchain-verified ledgers or centralized digital databases for ARCs, where a certificate cannot be “photoshopped” because its validity is checked against a live manufacturer database, are likely to move from experimental pilots to industry requirements. Trust can no longer be assumed; it must be digitally verified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which aircraft engines were affected by the fake parts?
The fraud specifically targeted the CFM56 engine, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran. This engine powers the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.

Were any accidents caused by these parts?
There have been no reports of accidents or injuries directly attributed to the parts sold by AOG Technics. The parts were identified and removed following regulatory alerts.

How was the fraud discovered?
The scheme was exposed in 2023 when an engineer at TAP Air Portugal noticed irregularities in documentation and contacted the manufacturer, Safran, who confirmed the forgery.

Sources

Fox News, Southwark Crown Court Filings, UK Serious Fraud Office.