A Swedish prosecutor has accused a Flydubai pilot of attacking the aircraft's captain with an axe and attempting to carry out a terrorist act, Dagens Nyheter reports. The claim was made public on Saturday, October 3, 2026, according to the Swedish news outlet.
Dagens Nyheter reports that the pilot has given his own account of the incident, saying he "could not let everyone else die." The same outlet carried the prosecutor's statement that an axe was used against the captain.
Aftonbladet also reported the prosecutor's account that the captain was struck with an axe, while Göteborgs-Posten reported the prosecutor's characterization of the pilot's alleged intent as an attempted terrorist act.
Separately, Omni reported, citing sources, that the first officer had previously been subject to a flight ban.
The reporting so far comes from Swedish outlets and centers on statements by the prosecutor and the pilot's own remarks. No full account of the incident, the flight involved, or the charges filed has been published in the material available.
What to watch next: whether Swedish authorities release further details on the charges and the circumstances surrounding the flight.
