Airlines admit no foolproof guard against dangerous pilots

Where Diplomacy Meets News

Airlines admit no foolproof guard against dangerous pilots after flydubai attack

October 8, 2026

BRUSSELS — Top airline executives said that aviation safety remains strong despite a frightening incident last week in which a flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe, in what officials believe was an attempt to crash the aircraft.

The executives admitted, however, that stopping a single rogue pilot is nearly impossible.

The remarks, made during an Airlines for Europe press conference in Brussels, were among the first public comments from industry leaders since the attack, which sent the jet dropping 16,000 feet in just 30 seconds.

The co-pilot was eventually overpowered by passengers after the injured captain opened the cockpit door.

One passenger helped steady the aircraft until a standby crew member on board safely landed the plane.

Ryanair Group Chief Executive Michael O’Leary told reporters that dealing with a mentally disturbed person in the cockpit is extremely difficult to prepare for through regulation.

Two Israeli officials familiar with the probe old Reuters this week that the co-pilot told investigators in the United Arab Emirates, where he remains in custody, that he had planned the attack before joining the Dubai-based state airline.

The UAE has not announced any formal charges, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.

Saudi Arabia has launched a separate air accident investigation, Reuters reported, as aviation experts examine the broader safety implications alongside the UAE’s criminal investigation, according to three sources close to the matter.

Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said no airline can prevent every possible incident, noting that overall safety standards in the industry remain high.

He pointed out that the last similar case involving a pilot happened more than ten years ago.

That earlier case involved a Germanwings Airbus A320, which crashed into the French Alps in 2015 after the co-pilot locked the captain out of the cockpit and intentionally flew the plane into a mountain, killing 150 people.

Spohr said the industry must accept that absolute safety can never be guaranteed, adding that pilot mental health screening is already thorough.

Further Reading on This Topic