Italian police investigating 'fake' pilot

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ROME, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Italian police say they have arrested a man who posed as an airline pilot and allegedly rode free as a "third pilot" on a Lufthansa flight.

The unnamed man, who went by the alias "Andrea Sirlo," has been charged with attempting to threaten air security and assuming a false identity, Britain's The Telegraph reported.

Lufthansa declined to comment.

Police are trying to determine whether he flew as an impostor at other times, even though "Sirlo" allegedly told officials, "I flew free on only one flight. On that occasion they invited me into the cockpit as third pilot."

The newspaper said "Sirlo" is unemployed and has a criminal record for several offenses, including fraud. He was arrested Friday when he showed up at the check-in desk at Turin Airport.

The Telegraph said the man created a false identity as a Lufthansa pilot and uploaded photos of himself in uniform on Facebook, and he talked about his imaginary flights with 400 friends.