World News
Intoxicated man arrested after allegedly stealing plane and flying near Hungarian nuclear plant
Hungarian fighter jets scrambled after a Cessna 172 was taken from Kalocsa Airport and flown toward the Paks facility.
The short version
- A 24-year-old allegedly stole a Cessna 172 from Kalocsa Airport and flew toward Hungary's sole nuclear power plant in Paks.
- Hungarian military radar detected the unauthorized flight, prompting two standby fighter jets to intercept and track the aircraft.
- The plane came down in a sunflower field near Gerjen, and the suspect was arrested shortly after attempting to take a passing motorist's car.
- Police are conducting an investigation into the theft and testing whether the suspect was under the influence of drugs in addition to alcohol.
Key facts
- Hungarian police stated that a 24-year-old man untied and stole a Cessna 172 from Kalocsa Airport, taking off from a service road on a Saturday morning.[Fox News]
- The aircraft headed toward Paks, the site of Hungary's only nuclear power plant, prompting the military to scramble two standby fighter jets.[Fox News]
- The plane landed in a sunflower field near Gerjen, where fighter jets monitored the scene until ground rescue teams arrived.[Fox News]
- According to police, the suspect sustained minor injuries, walked to a nearby road, and unsuccessfully attempted to take a vehicle from a motorist who stopped to assist.[Fox News]
- Hungarian police apprehended the suspect at the scene and took him into custody to face charges related to the incident.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- Police are still investigating whether the suspect was under the influence of narcotics alongside alcohol.[Fox News]