VIRGINIA WATER, England — A former techno DJ who ran an aircraft parts business from his suburban garage was sentenced to prison after selling nearly £7 million worth of counterfeit engine components, a fraud that caused widespread airline disruptions, triggered international safety alerts, and cost carriers more than £39 million.
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, 38, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to four years and eight months in prison after prosecutors showed he falsified tens of thousands of documents to sell unapproved aircraft engine parts to customers around the world. The fraudulent components were installed in CFM56 engines, which power Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft — the backbone of many global airline fleets.
The safety implications were significant. Aviation regulators in the United Kingdom, United States, and European Union issued urgent warnings in August 2023 after discovering suspect parts in service, prompting airlines to ground aircraft for inspections at major hubs, including Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Global Fraud Operation Run From Home
Prosecutors said Zamora Yrala operated his company, AOG Technics, from his home in Virginia Water, Surrey, between 2019 and 2023. Using his personal computer, he forged more than 60,000 authenticity certificates to make aircraft engine parts appear legitimate and compliant with international aviation safety standards.
The falsified documents misrepresented the origin, maintenance status, and airworthiness of parts, including blades, seals, bolts, vanes, and washers. These components were then sold to airlines and maintenance providers across multiple continents.
Ethiopian Airlines alone purchased 5,627 parts with false documentation for approximately £1.1 million. American Airlines did not buy directly from AOG Technics, but investigators later determined that 28 engines in its fleet contained unapproved components traced back to the company.
Total losses to airlines reached £39.3 million, driven largely by emergency inspections, replacement parts, grounded aircraft, and operational disruptions.
Maintenance Discovery Exposed Fraud
The scheme began to unravel after maintenance crews at Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal discovered a bolt supplied by AOG Technics did not fit properly during routine servicing.
That discrepancy led to a broader review of documentation, which exposed forged certificates closely resembling legitimate approvals used in global aviation.
On Aug. 4, 2023, regulators issued safety notices warning airlines about parts supplied by AOG Technics. Aircraft worldwide were temporarily removed from service to allow engineers to inspect engines and replace suspect components.
The counterfeit parts were designed for the CFM56 engine, the world’s most widely used commercial aircraft engine, amplifying the scale of the incident and its potential safety impact.
Admission and Deception
Authorities searched Zamora Yrala’s home in December 2023, where investigators uncovered evidence of the fraudulent operation.
“He admitted that AOG sometimes sold parts as if they were manufactured by original equipment manufacturers when they were not.”
Prosecutors also revealed that AOG Technics was largely a one-man operation. While the company presented itself as a legitimate aviation supplier with multiple staff, only a few individuals were involved, including Zamora Yrala, his former wife, her brother, and a nanny.
Investigators said several employee identities used in communications with customers were fictitious, created to give the appearance of a larger, credible business.
The UK Serious Fraud Office found that 90 percent of the company’s revenue during the indictment period relied on forged documentation.
Sentencing and Ongoing Investigation
Judge Simon Picken said Zamora Yrala used deliberate deception to undermine aviation safety systems designed to protect passengers.
In addition to his prison sentence, Zamora Yrala has been banned from serving as a company director for eight years. He also faces further financial penalties under proceeds-of-crime laws.
The investigation remains ongoing. Portuguese authorities are continuing to examine the roles of other individuals linked to the case, with three people currently in custody.
The case has raised concerns across the aviation industry about supply chain oversight and the risks posed by counterfeit components. Airlines and regulators have since increased scrutiny of parts suppliers and documentation to prevent similar incidents.
Industry experts say the fraud illustrates how deeply interconnected aviation supply chains can be — and how a single fraudulent supplier can disrupt airline operations worldwide, ground aircraft, and expose carriers to major financial and safety risks.
