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In the aviation industry, meticulous documentation accompanies every aircraft part to ensure traceability and quality. A single flawed component could have catastrophic safety implications.

The engine manufacturer CFM became aware of the problem in June when a Portuguese repair shop alerted them to allegedly forged documents bearing their name.

 By August, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority had issued a safety notice, acknowledging its investigation into the supply of numerous "Suspect Unapproved Parts" originating from AOG Technics. Airlines and maintenance facilities that had acquired parts from AOG Technics were urged to verify their authenticity.

Europe's aviation regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), concurrently released a statement confirming the forgery of documents to make it appear as if AOG Technics' parts were sourced from legitimate manufacturers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued a notice about AOG Technics' fraudulent parts scheme, joining the growing list of concerned regulators.

The Deep Fake of Aviation Parts

Robert Mann, president of the airline industry consulting firm R.W. Mann and Company, characterized AOG Technics as a "deep fake" company in the gray market of airplane parts.

 While gray market products are typically components that are certified or repairable but fail to meet certain requirements, black market dealings can involve the sale of military technology to countries under international sanctions.

Mann expressed concern over the sophisticated customers who should have thoroughly vetted the supplier but were nonetheless deceived, potentially jeopardizing the safety of passengers, employees, and aircraft.

As of the latest update, the EASA reported that there have been no reported problems resulting from the unapproved parts.

AOG Technics is a deep fake company

Public filings in the UK reveal that AOG Technics was founded by Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala in 2015. Besides allegedly fabricating documents for aircraft parts, AOG Technics is accused of creating several fictitious LinkedIn profiles, purporting to be company executives.

Further investigations into Yrala's filings expose his involvement in two other UK companies: Kensho Group LTD, a real estate company, and Sunwave Solutions, an e-commerce vendor. 

Kensho folded in January 2023, and Sunwave Solutions appears to remain operational. A close examination of Yrala's filings reveals a trail of typos and shifting corporate addresses, some leading to coworking spaces in London and the offices of a retired accountant in West Sussex.