Guillermo Seamann allegedly issued a total of 39 certificates to pilots and mechanics from Venezuela and Peru.

Authorities said the applicants never came to Honduras but used local lawyers to obtain the licences.

An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Seamann after he failed to show up at his office on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, Melvin Duarte, said Mr Seamann had been under investigation for a month.

Mr Seamann is accused of abuse of authority and, if found guilty, could face a jail term of eight years.

It was not clear whether it was a case of easing the application process or that the applicants did not have enough training.

It is not known what use the Venezuelans and Peruvians made of the licences, which were apparently also valid for flying outside Honduras, local media reported.

Mr Seamann has also been accused of improperly awarding permits to US charter companies to fly to Honduras.