A shadowy UK-based company has sold jet engine parts backed by phony inspection certificates that have made their way into at least 126 jets around the world, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The biggest airlines in the US have been affected, including American, Delta, United and Southwest — which have had to pull the affected planes from service to inspect them.
It is not yet known how long aircraft with uncertified parts from AOG Technics LTD have been flying, but the alarm was first raised in June by a European airline.
Without proper certification, the incredibly tightly regulated aerospace industry can’t guarantee the parts will actually work — which could have disastrous consequences if they failed 30,000 feet in the air.
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“When a supplying firm, in the supplying chain, certifies that these meet all the standards, those have to be guaranteed — and you should be able to take that at face value,” Dean Ramnath Chellapa, an associate professor at Emory University, told 11 Alive News.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case with AOG Technics. Closer investigation of the company — a middeman which supplied parts to aircraft manufacturers — revealed it used a virtual office in London near Buckingham Palace and fake employee profiles to make it appear more legitimate.
The company was founded in the UK in 2015 by Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, according to documents filed with Companies House in London, which keep records of who owns all businesses registered in the UK. He is believed to be a 35-year-old from Venezuela.
The parts backed by forged documents were used in CFM56 engines — the world’s best-selling jet engine, which is used in planes like the Airbus A320 models and Boeing 737.REUTERSThe airlines are involved in a lawsuit against the company.Getty ImagesNo incidents linked to the suspected forged parts have been identified.Tim Graham/Getty Images
The major American airlines are involved in a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of engaging in suspicious business practices to rake in profits of $3 million.
AOG Technics was originally listed as having a property in the small seaside town of Hove, in southern England, but is now listed at a “virtual” office in central London, according to the government filings.
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It appears the company just rented a mailing address at that location for as little as $150 a month.
Zamora Yrala apparently built the company up by touting experienced employees on LinkedIn — including a man named Ray Kwong, who was listed as the chief commercial officer.
His LinkedIn profile said he had prior experience at Mitsubishi and Nissan, but neither car maker has been able to confirm he worked for them.
Kwong’s profile picture shows a gray-haired Asian man in a white button-down shirt wearing a blue tie, which appears to be a stock image and is used on other web pages.
A LinkedIn profile for a man named “Ray Kwong” claimed he was the chief commercial officer at AOG Technics LTD based out of London.LinkedInThe same profile picture appeared on another website, which listed him as a man named “Wang” who is a “factory owner.”
Another employee was listed as Martina Spencer, an account manager for AOG Technics.
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However, her photo is also used in an Amazon listing for women’s reading glasses.
Those profiles have been deleted, as AOG Technics faces a lawsuit in the UK for selling the parts that were used in CFM56 engines — the world’s best-selling jet engine, used in planes like the Airbus A320 models and Boeing 737.
CFM, the company whose engines were impacted by the alleged scam, fears the forged paperwork could have been used to pass off old parts as new, or offload parts that lack traceability needed to ensure they’re safe.
The company was first made aware of the forged documents on June 21, when TAP Air Portugal’s maintenance team reached out to CFM, saying it was concerned about documentation for a small part called a dampener it had received from AOG Technics.
“The part appeared to be older than represented,” CFM alleges in court documents, claiming its certificate contained a false signature.
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Within just 20 days, the same airline found 24 other forms from AOG Technics that contained “significant discrepancies.”
The engines impacted account for less than 1% of Delta’s mainline fleet, and no aircraft are flying with unapproved engine parts, a spokesperson for Delta told Fox News Digital, noting that the discovery of the issue has not affected the airline’s scheduled flights at all.
Another employee was listed as Martina Spencer, an account manager for AOG Technics. LinkedInThe same woman, wearing the same glasses, appeared in an Amazon listing for women’s reading glasses.Amazon
United also found unapproved parts on only two of its aircraft, “including one that was already undergoing routine maintenance,” the company told Fox News.
“We are replacing the affected engines on both aircrafts before they are returned to service, and we’ll continue to investigate as new information becomes available from our suppliers.”
Southwest, meanwhile, claimed only one aircraft had a part backed by forged documents.
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“In an abundance of caution, we made an immediate decision to promptly replace those parts on that single engine,” a spokesperson said.
Delta said it removed a “small number” of engines from service to check their parts.
Among the parts that were backed by forged documents were turbine blades — a critical component of an aircraft’s propulsion system, the European Union Aviation Safety Administration has determined.
Fortunately, no incidents linked to the suspected forged parts have been identified.
Former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is reportedly closing in on an agreement to become the next head coach at Delaware State University.
Jackson, 38, had an on-campus interview, and the school and ex-NFL wideout are expected to “come together” soon,” ESPN reported Thursday.
It was also reported that coaching at a historically black college or university (HBCU) was a “dream” for Jackson.
DeSean Jackson is close to becoming the next coach at Delaware State. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Jackson spent 15 years in the NFL with the Eagles, Washington, Rams, Raiders and Ravens, with his last season coming in 2022.
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The three-time Pro Bowler does have coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in his hometown of Long Beach, Calif. this year.
He is now getting close to taking over the football program at the HBCU that had just one win in 2024 and one win in 2023 after going 5-6 in 2022.
Now, the school will see if some of Jackson’s experience can rub off on the program.
DeSean Jackson was a three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. AP
Jackson finished his NFL career with 641 catches, 11,263 yards and 66 total touchdowns.
That came after a memorable college career at Cal, where he recorded 2,423 yards and 23 total touchdowns, earning All-American nods in 2006 and 2007.
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The news about Jackson’s hiring came just days after former Eagles QB Michael Vick — and Jackson’s former teammate — was hired by Norfolk State to be its next coach.
DeSean Jackson played 15 years in the NFL. AP
If Jackson’s deal goes through, he will run into a Vick-led Norfolk State next season in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
Vick said during a press conference that the new job would allow him to “serve young men in my community.”
“I understand the value of a HBCU,” Vick said at a press conference earlier this week. “The fact that it is in my hometown makes it even better.
“And so, it’s a great admiration for HBCUs, the NFL has numerous partnerships with HBCUs, so I think it shows that people care, you know, you’ve got these big time Division I programs where they’ve got all these amazing things, bells and whistles, money, and they tend to forget about the HBCUs and the schools that have the same type of prominence, and so, to start here, it wasn’t even by design.”
CENTRAL PARK (WABC) — A New Year’s Eve drone show in Central Park has been canceled, according to the New York Road Runners.
Not because of the local drone scares, but rather because it was being produced by the same vendor who was blamed for a disaster at a drone show in Florida.
Several drones that were part of a show in Orlando collided on Saturday night. A boy was hit and hospitalized.
NYRR had hired the company for a display in the park as part of a midnight race.
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“As always, we are working to ensure that runners have a memorable time as they ring in 2025 at our festive NYRR Midnight Run on New Year’s Eve in Central Park. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of our control, we will no longer be staging our planned drone show during the race,” the NYRR said in a statement.
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Researchers at Georgia Southern University’s Institute for Water and Health have launched a collaborative pilot project in Marion, Alabama, to address aging water infrastructure, promote workforce development, and advance environmental justice through community-based research and training programs.
Researchers at the Institute for Water and Health (IWH) at Georgia Southern University initiated a new project in Marion, Alabama, to address the city’s aging water infrastructure and its impact on human health with a focus on community-based research, workforce development and environmental justice.
The pilot project in Marion, Alabama, is a collaborative effort between Georgia Southern and the University of Alabama. IWH Director Asli Aslan, Ph.D., is the principal investigator (PI) and Lacey Huffling, Ph.D., from Georgia Southern’s College of Education, and Lanna Nations, director for education and outreach for the Alabama Water Institute at the University of Alabama, are co-PIs.
In partnership with the city of Eastman, Georgia, the project includes an internship program for next-generation water operators and a peer mentorship program for current water managers. Project leaders seek to improve communication and foster trust between local authorities and residents, contributing to long-term environmental health and equitable access to safe drinking water.
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Aslan sees workforce readiness as a critical component to maintaining standards in water management.
“Nationwide, community water systems are managed by specialized professionals to ensure safe water every time we turn on the tap,” noted Aslan.
According to her, about 50% of water operators working at these facilities will retire in the next decade, but only 10% are expected to be replaced. Training the next generation of water operators and developing leaders for rural water systems is a matter of national security.
“The Institute for Water and Health is committed to launching a regional program to equip future water managers with the necessary skills to ensure safe water for all,” Aslan continued. “This pilot project will lay the foundation for this goal and aims to expand the program throughout the southeastern United States.”
The project is funded by Alabama Power and Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a Georgia-based program that funds and supports networks through resources across businesses, research universities and government entities.
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To learn more about this project and other IWH research and educational programs visit here or email [email protected].
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