Carl Lundstrom, the co-founder and financier of The Pirate Bay, tragically lost his life in a plane crash while flying solo in Northern Slovenia.

At 64, Lundstrom was a polarizing figure known for his far-right political beliefs and controversial associations. His historical ties to extreme right-wing groups were noted, with The Register branding him as The Pirate Bay’s “neo-Nazi sugar daddy” due to these affiliations. Lundstrom was also infamous for his denial of Holocaust crimes, claiming that Nazi Germany did not intend to systematically kill concentration camp prisoners.

The news of his death was originally reported by the Alternative for Sweden party, where Lundstrom had been a candidate in the 2021 elections. According to their statement, “Lundstrom, a legend and veteran of Swedish nationalism, died in a plane crash on Monday.” He was taking off in a Mooney M-20 from Zagreb, heading for Zurich, but unfortunately crashed in Slovenia.

Reports indicate that the aircraft shattered upon impact with a wooden cabin on the Velika Planina mountain, with rescuers unable to reach the site until the following day due to worsening weather conditions.

Despite some debate over his contributions to The Pirate Bay, it’s clear that his substantial inheritance from the Wasabröd crisp bread empire and his company, Rix Telecom, played pivotal roles in the early development of the site.

In 2009, Lundstrom was tried in a copyright case known as the “Pirate Bay Four.” Although he was initially sentenced to prison and fined, his sentence was later reduced to four months on appeal.