An Iranian man who tried to get a U.S. pilot’s license for passenger jets by using a stolen identity will serve more than two years in prison, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
But Justice Department officials stressed that the investigation revealed no terrorism activity nor links between the Iranian man and terrorist groups.
According to court records, Nader Ali Sabouri Haghighi, 41, stole another pilot’s identity, then used it to try to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration that would have allowed him to pilot commercial jets.
Haghighi also used a credit card he forged under the other pilot’s name to pay for all the fees associated with the certificate.
He’s been wanted since September 2012, when he crashed a plane in Denmark while in possession of a stolen pilot’s certificate. After facing charges in Denmark and Germany, prosecutors said Haghighi returned to Iran. He was spotted in Indonesia, and then in Panama, where he was arrested.
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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