Air Canada pilot flew hundreds of flights without required license

Peel Regional Police will provide details Tuesday on a complex fraud investigation into a former Air Canada captain who allegedly flew hundreds of flights without a required license.

The investigation, called "Project Icarus," involves the pilot, according to police. Air Canada said in a statement the pilot held a valid commercial pilot license but was missing the airline transport pilot (ATPL) license required under Canadian regulations for captains.

The airline said safety had not been compromised. Pilots are tested every six months to validate flying competency and undergo a flight check with a certified Transport Canada check-pilot annually. Upon discovering the discrepancy, Air Canada removed the pilot from active duty and reported the matter to Transport Canada.

The pilot is no longer employed by Air Canada. An audit of the airline's pilots found no other instances of non-compliance.

Transport Canada and police have not released additional details about the timeline of flights or whether other airlines or crew members were involved in the alleged breach.