Drunk man steals plane and heads toward nuclear plant: fighter jets scrambled
A young man broke into an airport in southern Hungary early in the morning and stole a light aircraft. He flew towards a nuclear power plant, prompting the military to scramble fighter jets. The flight ended with an emergency landing in a sunflower field, after which the suspect attempted to hijack a car.
A man stole a light aircraft on Saturday in Hungary and flew towards the nuclear power plant in Paks, prompting the Hungarian Minister of Defense to scramble fighter jets.
The incident ended with an emergency landing in a sunflower field. Local police stated that the suspect is a 24-year-old man who was intoxicated and in a "confused state." According to reports, he had argued with his partner the night before the incident.
The plane, a Cessna 172, was stolen from an airport in the city of Kalocsa in southern Hungary. According to the local newspaper BAON, the suspect broke into the private airfield early in the morning. The aircraft was secured to the ground with anchor cables, which the suspect did not release, causing them to be ripped from the ground during takeoff. He departed from a service road rather than the runway.
Hungarian military radar systems identified the plane immediately after takeoff, and Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi ordered a pair of Gripen fighter jets to intercept. Minutes later, the light aircraft made an emergency landing in a sunflower field. The landing gear collapsed, leaving the plane tilted on its side. The fighter jets circled the area until rescue forces arrived. The suspect sustained minor injuries.
After landing, the suspect abandoned the plane and walked onto a nearby road. A passing driver stopped to assist him, but the suspect attempted to hijack the vehicle. The passenger managed to prevent the theft, and police officers arrived shortly after to arrest the suspect.
Local police are investigating how the suspect obtained the ignition key and where he acquired the knowledge to fly the plane. They are also testing for potential drug use. The suspect has been detained, and an investigation into the illegal taking of a vehicle and other offenses is underway. Simultaneously, the police and aviation authorities have launched a joint inspection of security procedures at the Kalocsa airport, with plans to expand the audit to other airports nationwide.
