Ex-DJ jailed in London for selling fake parts to airlines
The Guardian World
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondentFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A former techno DJ turned fraudster, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, has been jailed for orchestrating a £40 million global scam involving the sale of fake aircraft parts. Operating from his garage in London, Yrala ran AOG Technics, which supplied over 60,000 defective components to airlines worldwide. These parts were used by major carriers including American Airlines, Delta, Ryanair, and Ethiopian Airlines before the fraud was uncovered. The scheme posed serious safety risks, prompting regulators to issue alerts and ground planes for inspections.
Yrala’s operation exploited the aviation industry’s reliance on reliable spare parts, selling low-quality components that could compromise aircraft performance. Investigators found that AOG Technics marketed these fake parts as genuine replacements, often sourced from questionable suppliers or counterfeit manufacturers. The impact of the fraud was significant, with safety concerns leading to widespread scrutiny of supply chains and a push for stricter regulations in the aviation sector.
The case highlights the dangers of counterfeit parts in the global aerospace industry, where even minor defects can lead to catastrophic failures. Yrala’s actions not only caused financial losses but also endangered lives by introducing substandard components into aircraft systems. His arrest and sentencing underscore the importance of enforcing robust anti-fraud measures and ensuring the integrity of aviation supply chains worldwide. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks of fraud in critical industries and the need for vigilance to protect public safety.
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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/23/2026