Aircraft engineer prosecuted for exam lies

Princepreet Sandhu appeared before Isleworth Crown Court on 21 August, following his conviction in June 2019.

The Court heard that Mr Sandhu had been employed as an engineer by British Airways and twice submitted an application to have additional categories included on his licence, allowing him to carry out more complicated work on aircraft. His application to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates Aircraft Engineer Licences, used forged exam certificates in support of his applications.

The deception was  spotted by British Airways and reported to the CAA. The CAA's Investigations & Enforcement Team worked with Airworthiness colleagues, and with the support of British Airways, to bring the case to court.

Speaking after sentencing, Alison Slater, the Civil Aviation Authority's Head of Investigations and Enforcement, said: “Aviation safety relies upon the honesty and integrity of everyone who works in safety-critical roles within the industry. Unlawful activity such as Mr Sandhu's will not be tolerated.

“We will continue to work closely with the industry to prevent potential safety risks to the public. We would like to thank British Airways for their assistance in achieving this outcome.”