UK SFO Secures Prison Term in Aircraft Parts Fraud

The Serious Fraud Office has secured a four-year and eight-month prison sentence for Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, director of UK-based aircraft parts trader AOG Technics, following a major global aviation fraud case.

Zamora, 38, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty in December 2025 to fraudulent trading. Prosecutors said he orchestrated a £39.3 million scheme that deceived airlines and aviation suppliers worldwide and posed serious risks to public safety.

According to the SFO, between January 2019 and July 2023, AOG Technics sold more than 60,000 aircraft engine parts worth £6.9 million that were accompanied by forged Authorised Release Certificates (ARCs). These certificates are critical documents that verify a component’s airworthiness and regulatory compliance.

Most of the parts were intended for use in the CFM56 engine — one of the world’s most widely used commercial aircraft powerplants, produced by CFM International, a joint venture between Safran and GE Aerospace. Authorities said AOG Technics generated over £7.7 million in revenue during four years of operation, with approximately 90% linked to fraudulent activity.

Investigators found that Zamora altered genuine documentation on his home computer, creating falsified shipment records to make it appear that AOG had sourced components directly from original equipment manufacturers, including Safran. He also fabricated employee identities, using fake sales and quality managers to communicate with customers and reinforce the illusion of a legitimate enterprise.

The operation unraveled in 2023 after an airline contacted Safran to verify the authenticity of parts supplied by AOG. Safran identified the documentation as fraudulent and alerted authorities. Subsequent safety notices were issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, leading to aircraft groundings in multiple countries.

Airlines including American Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines were among those affected, with total industry losses estimated at more than £39.3 million.

SFO officials said the case highlights the serious safety implications of fraudulent aviation documentation and underscores the agency’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the global aerospace supply chain.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, www.gov.uk