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24-year-old’s reckless act prompts Hungary to scramble fighter jets after plane theft
🇭🇷 Croatia /Conflict & Security

24-year-old’s reckless act prompts Hungary to scramble fighter jets after plane theft

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Hungarian authorities scrambled two Gripen fighters after a stolen Cessna 172 entered a restricted zone near the Paks nuclear power plant.
  • The aircraft landed in a sunflower field near Gerjen, about seven kilometers from the plant, and was damaged; no injuries or infrastructure damage were reported.
  • Police arrested a 24-year-old man who allegedly stole the plane from Kalocsa Airport and was reportedly intoxicated, while investigations continue into the incident and airport security.

Two Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were sent after a light aircraft entered the no-fly zone around the Paks nuclear power plant. The Cessna 172 later landed in a sunflower field near Gerjen, about seven kilometers from the facility.

Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said the military radar detected the aircraft on Saturday morning after it entered the restricted area. The Gripens located the plane and remained nearby until a rescue helicopter and emergency crews arrived.

in poor condition

— Hungarian policePolice used the phrase to describe the road where the suspect walked after landing.

The aircraft suffered damage during the landing, but authorities reported no injuries and no damage to infrastructure. Paks is Hungary’s only nuclear facility and produces about half of the country’s electricity. Civilian aircraft are barred from a three-kilometer radius around the site at altitudes below 6,000 meters.

stopped in time

— Hungarian policePolice said the suspect’s alleged attempt to take control of a car was stopped before he could drive away.

Police said a 24-year-old man allegedly took the plane without permission from a nearby airport in Kalocsa. After the forced landing, he apparently tried to flee. Police said he walked along a nearby road in poor condition, then allegedly tried to take control of a driver’s car after the driver stopped to help him. The man was stopped and arrested by officers who arrived at the scene.

Preliminary checks indicated that the suspect was drunk, police said. Tests will determine whether other substances were involved. Investigators are examining his motives and how he managed to take the aircraft. Police and aviation authorities have also launched an inspection at Kalocsa Airport, with checks at other airports to follow.

drunk

— Hungarian policePolice described the preliminary indication from checks on the 24-year-old suspect.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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