Pilot flies for 2 decades with fake certificates

A pilot, Captain Nuruddin Ahmed Al Masud, has been found to have flown for three private airlines for nearly two decades using fake training certificates and falsified flight hours. At one point, he even served as the head of pilots for one of these airlines. However, his deceit came to light during a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) investigation after he applied for a pilot position at Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Despite the revelations, no punitive action was taken against him during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.

Captain Masud began his career in commercial aviation at the now-defunct GMG Airlines after returning from training in the Philippines in March 2001. He later worked for United Airways, another airline that shut down, and subsequently joined US-Bangla Airlines, where he also served as Director of Flight Operations.

In 2021, he applied to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to pilot a Boeing 737. As part of the recruitment process, CAAB reviewed documents submitted by all applicants. During this verification process, one of the certificates Captain Masud submitted was found to be forged, and there were significant irregularities in his reported flight hours.

Training certificates raise red flags

According to CAAB’s investigation, Captain Masud submitted three certificates related to his training in the Philippines in 2001. One certificate stated he had completed 133 hours and 12 minutes of flight training between March 5 and April 18, 2001. However, his passport records show he entered the Philippines on March 5, 2001, and it would have taken at least three days to a week for medical tests and other formalities before starting flight training. This raises doubts about the validity of the certificate, especially as it was dated March 20, 2001.

Another certificate claimed that he had completed the same 133 hours and 12 minutes of flight training between March 27 and April 30, 2001, and was dated April 30, 2001. Yet another document indicated he had flown 346 hours between March 27 and October 18, 2001. However, Philippine aviation authorities confirmed that Captain Masud was only authorized to train in the country until April 30, 2001, making any claims of training beyond that date invalid.

CAAB's review also identified discrepancies in his flight log. For example, Captain Masud claimed to have flown 118 hours in just nine days (from March 27 to April 4, 2001), which translates to approximately 13 hours per day—an impossible feat for a trainee pilot, as most are not allowed to exceed 4 hours of flight time per day.

Philippines’ verification exposes forgery

The CAAB chairman at the time, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Mofidur Rahman, sought verification from the Philippines' Civil Aviation Authority.

He told Views Bangladesh, "If someone is appointed without verifying the authenticity of the certificate, the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority may face international punishment. That is why there was a need to verify the information on the certificate."

Their response was damning:

Captain Masud’s medical tests were completed after March 19, 2001, ruling out any flight training before this date.

There were no records of him training or flying between March 5 and March 18, 2001.

The claim of 118 flight hours over nine days was deemed “unrealistic.”

After April 30, 2001, Captain Masud had no authorization to remain in the Philippines for training, and there were no records of his re-entry into the country later that year.

No action yet against the fraudulent pilot

Despite these findings, Captain Masud was able to build a career with three private airlines in Bangladesh, including serving as US-Bangla Airlines' Director of Flight Operations. Even though CAAB confirmed the forgery and irregularities, they have yet to take any action against him.

When asked about the matter, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan told Views Bangladesh: "The issue is under our scrutiny. Necessary steps will be taken following the law, and no irregularities will be tolerated.”

Efforts to reach Captain Nuruddin Ahmed Al Masud for his comments have been unsuccessful.