From Techno Beats to Terror in the Skies: DJ Jailed for Selling 60,000 FAKE Plane Parts That Could Have Crashed Your Flight!
Imagine boarding a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, engines roaring… unaware that hidden inside could be counterfeit bolts, seals, or washers sold by a former nightclub DJ from his quiet English garage. This isn’t a thriller movie—it’s REAL, and it just landed one man nearly 5 years in prison. The aviation world is still shaking.
The Shocking Story Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, 38, once spun tracks as a techno DJ. But between 2019 and 2023, he ran AOG Technics—a UK aircraft parts company—and turned it into a £39.3 million (~$52–53 million) global fraud machine.
He bought cheap, used engine bits (mostly for the ultra-common CFM56 engines powering thousands of passenger jets worldwide), slapped on forged safety certificates, and sold over 60,000 fake parts to airlines and suppliers everywhere.
These weren’t harmless knockoffs. Fake Authorised Release Certificates (ARCs) meant these parts looked 100% airworthy… until regulators like the FAA, EASA, and UK CAA sounded the alarm in 2023 after Safran spotted one forgery.
The fallout?
- Planes grounded worldwide for emergency inspections and engine teardowns.
- Massive costs: £39.3 million in industry losses (American Airlines alone hit with ~$31 million in repairs and downtime).
- Lives at risk: One bad part in a high-pressure engine could spell disaster mid-flight.
On February 23, 2026, at London’s Southwark Crown Court, Zamora Yrala pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading and was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison. He’s banned from running companies for 8 years, and authorities are chasing him for restitution.
The judge didn’t hold back: This was a “complete undermining” of aviation safety that “risked public lives in a way that defies belief.” The Serious Fraud Office called it audacious and globe-threatening.
Grounded fleets at airports worldwide, mechanics ripping apart engines in panic.
And the courtroom where justice finally dropped…
Why This Matters to Every Frequent Flyer Aviation runs on trust in the supply chain. One garage fraudster exposed massive vulnerabilities—fake PDFs, doctored docs, parts slipping into real jets. It’s a wake-up call for stricter tracking and digital certification.
Zamora’s scheme didn’t cause a crash (thankfully), but it could have. As air travel booms post-pandemic, stories like this remind us: Safety isn’t guaranteed—it’s fought for. 😱✈️
What do you think—should penalties be harsher for aviation fraud? Drop your thoughts below! 👇
.
