In Hungary, a man hijacked a plane and flew toward a nuclear power plant
In Hungary, a 24-year-old man hijacked a Cessna 172 light aircraft and headed toward the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.
As the aircraft approached the restricted zone, the military scrambled Gripen fighter jets. However, before they arrived, the man made an emergency landing. After landing, he also attempted to steal a car.
According to law enforcement officials, on August 29, a 24-year-old man stole a Cessna 172 light aircraft from the airfield in Kalocsa. After takeoff, he headed toward the city of Paks, where the nuclear power plant is located.
Rusin-Sandy stated that Hungarian Armed Forces radars immediately detected the aircraft. Since the Paks Nuclear Power Plant is a facility with heightened security measures, a pair of Gripen fighter jets on standby were scrambled.
Before the fighter jets caught up with the Cessna, it made an emergency landing near the town of Gerjen—approximately 15 kilometers from the nuclear power plant. The Gripen jets located the damaged aircraft and remained over the landing site until rescue crews arrived.
According to police, the plane landed in a sunflower field. After landing, the man left the Cessna and walked out onto the road. There, a driver stopped to offer him help. The pilot got into the driver’s car and tried to drive away, but the car’s owner prevented him from doing so.
Police detained the 24-year-old man within a few minutes. According to preliminary reports, he was intoxicated. Law enforcement officials are also investigating whether he was under the influence of other substances.
Proceedings have been opened against the hijacker for unlawful seizure of a vehicle and other possible crimes. He was taken into custody, and the police have initiated his arrest. Law enforcement officials, together with aviation authorities, have also begun an inspection of the Kalocsa airfield and announced similar inspections at other airfields across the country.
Hungarian Defense Minister Romulus Rusin-Sendi reported the incident, and the Hungarian police released the details.
Hungary has called Russia a threat to Europe.
On Monday, August 24, a Hungarian Armed Forces Gripen fighter jet crashed near the Hungarian city of Szolnok. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.
