Drunk pilot steals plane, flies into no-fly zone before emergency landing in sunflower field

A 24-year-old man allegedly stole a Cessna 172 in Hungary and flew it into restricted airspace near the country’s only nuclear power plant before making an emergency landing in a sunflower field. The man was drunk at the time of the incident.

According to the contribution of the Hungarian Minister of Defense Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi on social media said the plane was detected by military radar after entering the no-fly zone around the Paks nuclear power plant in southern Hungary. Civilian aircraft are prohibited from operating within about two miles of the facility at altitudes below 20,000 feet.

Fighter jets tried to intercept the planes

The Hungarian military immediately deployed two Gripen fighters after the plane was discovered. The jets located the Cessna and remained nearby while emergency services were dispatched to the area where it eventually went down.

Minutes later, the plane made an emergency landing in a sunflower field about four miles from the nuclear facility. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, but the pilot was able to escape without injury.

The suspect attempted to carjack a passing driver

Police said the man suffered “minor injuries” during the landing. After the crash, he reportedly made his way through a sunflower field and onto a nearby road, where he was found “in a confused state,” according to a police report. He was said to be in distress and allegedly tried to take control of the driver’s car and flee in it.

Officers intervened before he could drive away and arrested him. He was subsequently brought in for questioning. Initial tests indicated that he was drunk, further tests were carried out to see if he had consumed other drugs or substances.

An investigation has been launched into how the plane came to be

Investigators suspect the man took the plane without permission from the nearby Kalocsa airport. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft, including how he got hold of the plane and what prompted him to take it.

Officials also plan to carry out checks at other airports across Hungary as part of the investigation.

The Paks nuclear power plant was unaffected by the incident. The facility is a key part of Hungary’s electricity supply and produces around half of the country’s electricity.

According to a People report, police said the man was “intoxicated” when the incident occurred, while further investigations are underway to determine if he ingested any other substances.

Authorities have opened proceedings against him on charges of unlawfully taking control of a vehicle and other offences.