A former techno DJ from Venezuela has pleaded guilty to masterminding a sophisticated global fraud, supplying counterfeit aircraft parts to major airlines around the world.
The Fraudulent Operation Uncovered
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, a 37-year-old with British citizenship, admitted in court to defrauding customers while running the UK-based company AOG Technics. His fraudulent trading took place between January 2019 and December 2023. The central to his scheme was the falsification of documentation concerning the origin, status, and condition of the aircraft parts he sold.
Zamora Yrala appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a navy suit and white shirt, where he formally pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent trading. He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to return for his sentencing hearing on February 23, where he faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Global Safety Alert and Grounded Aircraft
The counterfeit parts were specifically designed for the CFM56 engine, the world's most widely-used passenger aircraft engine, which powers both Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. The scale of the fraud triggered an international safety crisis in 2023.
Aviation authorities, including the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), issued urgent safety alerts to airlines that may have purchased or installed parts from AOG Technics. This led to the grounding of aircraft both in the UK and internationally as carriers scrambled to inspect their fleets.
Swift Investigation and International Cooperation
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launched an investigation in 2023, working closely with Portuguese authorities, whose separate probe remains ongoing. Emma Luxton, the SFO's director of operations, stated the fraud "threatened trust in the aviation industry and risked public safety on a global scale." She praised the swift action that led to the conviction and thanked Portuguese law enforcement for their critical assistance.
SFO Director Nick Ephgrave highlighted the disruption caused, noting that planes were grounded as a result of the fake parts. He expressed pride that the agency, alongside European partners, brought the case to charge in just 19 months.
The court heard that parts sold by AOG Technics were discovered on aircraft operated by several major carriers. Airlines affected included:
- Tui
- Ryanair
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
Zamora Yrala, who resides in Virginia Water, Surrey, will learn his fate later this month. Judge Alexander Milne KC, while continuing his bail, reminded him to return to court for sentencing on February 23.
