Drunk pilot crashes stolen plane near nuclear site in Hungary

A 24-year-old pilot allegedly stole a plane while intoxicated and flew towards a nuclear power plant in Hungary, triggering a major emergency response before the aircraft crashed in a sunflower field.

The worrying flight path of the Cessna 172 entered the no-fly zone around Hungary’s largest nuclear power plant and triggered an alert on military radar. Hungarian air force officials quickly mobilised a task force, with several fighter jets sent to intercept the aircraft.

The mid-air operation lasted only a few minutes before the pilot unexpectedly crash-landed in a sunflower field around four miles from the plant. Aerial footage showed a flattened trail through the sunflowers where the aircraft had bulldozed its way across the field.

The pilot was uninjured, but the Cessna 172 was left badly damaged after the crash. Police allege that the aircraft had been stolen from Kalocsa Airport. Following the emergency landing, the suspect allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot, heading along a nearby road.

He was then spotted “in a distressed state” by a passing driver. Police said the man attempted to take over the driver’s car, forcing the motorist to fight him off. Officers said the allegedly intoxicated pilot “was stopped in time” before he could take control of the vehicle.

Police arrested the man at the scene and took him in for questioning. Officers said testing would establish whether he had been under the influence of alcohol or other substances at the time of the incident.

The nuclear power plant, which supplies around 50 per cent of Hungary’s electricity, was not damaged during the incident. Police are now investigating how the man allegedly managed to steal the aircraft and take off without being stopped.

The incident has also raised questions over how the aircraft was able to enter the restricted airspace around the nuclear facility before military authorities responded. It is not the first time an allegedly intoxicated pilot has been arrested.

Earlier this month, an allegedly intoxicated pilot was escorted from a plane by police just minutes before takeoff in Georgia, US.

David Allsop, 52, was removed from his flight in front of stunned passengers and subsequently had his pilot’s licence revoked. After being questioned by police, Allsop reportedly admitted that he had drunk “a few beers” the night before. He then suggested that the smell officers noticed had come from his nicotine gum.