Investigations

On May 20, 2021, a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Eduardo Aching for operating an airplane in a commercial capacity with a revoked airman’s certificate. According to a criminal complaint filed on May 7, 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended Aching’s medical certificate for failing to report a driving under the influence arrest. However, Aching allegedly continued flying airplanes on at least 10 different occasions with the suspended medical certificate. The complaint further alleged that after surrendering the medical certificate to FAA, Aching presented an altered certificate to an FAA inspector. Consequently, FAA revoked Aching’s commercial airman’s certificate, but he continued operating airplanes as a “for hire” pilot and was later arrested by local police for failing to present pilot documents when requested. Following the arrest, Aching again operated an airplane on a commercial flight.

 

DOT-OIG conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from FAA, the Flight Standards Division Office in Miramar, Florida, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.