A company director from Surrey has admitted to a massive international fraud, selling counterfeit aircraft parts that ended up grounding hundreds of flights across the globe.
Guilty Plea in Major Aviation Fraud Case
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, a 37-year-old former techno DJ from Virginia Water, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on December 1, 2025. He confessed to defrauding customers and falsifying documents related to the origin and condition of aircraft components between January 2019 and December 2023.
Zamora Yrala was the director of the UK-based firm AOG Technics. His fraudulent activity involved supplying fake parts for the CFM56 engine, the powerplant for the world's most common passenger jets, including the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Global Safety Alert and Investigation
The scandal came to light in 2023, triggering urgent safety alerts from three major aviation regulators:
- The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
These alerts were issued to airlines, maintenance providers, and parts suppliers who may have purchased or installed the counterfeit components. The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launched an investigation, working alongside authorities in Portugal, where inquiries are still ongoing.
Emma Luxton, the SFO's Director of Operations, stated: "This significant and audacious fraud threatened trust in the aviation industry and risked public safety on a global scale." She praised the swift action leading to the conviction and thanked Portuguese law enforcement for their critical assistance.
Widespread Consequences and Sentencing Ahead
The fallout from the fraud was immediate and severe. Hundreds of commercial flights worldwide had to be grounded as airlines urgently inspected their fleets for the suspect parts. The client list for AOG Technics was not limited to airlines but also included maintenance firms and parts suppliers, widening the potential impact.
Zamora Yrala was granted conditional bail following his guilty plea. He is scheduled to return to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on February 23. The case highlights critical vulnerabilities in the global aviation supply chain and the serious consequences of parts fraud.
This conviction marks a significant step in holding individuals accountable for actions that compromise aviation safety and undermine the integrity of a industry upon which millions depend daily.
