Jose Alejandro Zamora, director of AOG Technics, has pleaded guilty in a London court for fraudulent trading.
What happened
The director of AOG pleaded guilty in London to fraudulent trading, marking a major turning point in the investigation of falsified aircraft-engine parts. According to the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), AOG Technics supplied parts between 2019 and 2023 using falsified airworthiness and origin documents, affecting components destined fro CFM56 engines. These engines power older Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft, the most widely used jets in the world.
Many of the falsified components were small, non-serialized engine parts (bolts, bushings, dampers, seals, washers), items that are harder to trace and easier to disguise with forged paperwork. These parts were sold to airlines, MROs, and parts distributors globally, prompting a worldwide inspection order in 2023.
Discovery
Engine manufacturers GE Aerospace and Safran discovered inconsistencies in certification documents during routine audits and then notified regulators, which set off the broader investigation. It was noted that up to 96 aircraft worldwide were believed to have been fitted with parts linked to AOG Technics before the fraud was discovered. This figure demostrated that both the scale of the potential risk and the vulnerability of the aviation supply chain to third-party distributors.
The case has intensified pressure on regulators including EASA, the FAA, and national civil-aviation authorities to strengthen oversight of independent suppliers. The scandal reveals structural weaknesses in how documentation, traceability, and certification are managed across global aircraft-parts networks.