In Hungary, a 24-year-old man under the influence of alcohol stole a light aircraft and headed towards the Paks nuclear power plant. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Euronews.
The incident occurred on the morning of August 29. The man took off without permission in an aircraft parked at the airfield in the city of Kalocsa and headed towards the city of Paks, where Hungary's only nuclear power plant is located.
Military radars immediately detected the aircraft. After that, a pair of on-duty Gripen fighter jets were scrambled, the Hungarian Defense Minister said.
The airspace within a radius of three kilometers from the Paks nuclear power plant is closed to civilian aviation up to an altitude of 6,000 meters. According to Hungarian media, the stolen aircraft performed dangerous maneuvers in the area of the plant.
A few minutes later, it made an emergency landing in a sunflower field near the settlement of Gerjen. The man abandoned the damaged aircraft and went to the highway.
According to Hungarian police, one motorist stopped to help the man. He got into the car and tried to drive away, but a passenger inside prevented him from doing so.
Police detained the suspect within minutes. A check confirmed that the man was under the influence of alcohol. Law enforcement is also investigating whether he may have used other substances.
A case was opened against the detainee on charges of illegal seizure of a vehicle and other alleged crimes. Police intend to request his arrest.
Following the incident, police, together with aviation authorities, began an inspection of the airfield in Kalocsa. Similar inspections are planned at other airports in Hungary.