Man Allegedly Steals Plane in Hungary, Prompting Military Response

<p>A 24-year-old man allegedly stole a small plane from Kalocsa Airport in Hungary while intoxicated, leading to a military response on Saturday morning. According to a translated video posted by Hungarian police, the man removed the ropes securing a Cessna 172 and took off using a service road, heading towards Paks, where Hungary's only nuclear power plant is located.</p><p>Hungarian military radars detected the aircraft, prompting two standby fighter jets to take off, as stated by Hungary's defense minister, Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. The Cessna later landed in a sunflower field near Gerjen, where the fighter jets located the damaged aircraft and remained overhead until rescue crews arrived. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the landing and made his way to a nearby road.</p><p>A passing driver stopped to assist the man, but he allegedly attempted to take the vehicle. The driver prevented him from leaving, and responding officers apprehended the suspect shortly thereafter. Authorities indicated that the man appeared to be intoxicated during the incident, and an investigation is underway to determine if he was under the influence of other drugs.</p><p>According to Hungarian police, the man faces charges related to the incident. Aviation expert Steven Arroyo noted that operating an aircraft without experience can be very dangerous and emphasized that incidents of stealing aircraft for joyrides are extremely rare. He highlighted the strict regulations regarding alcohol consumption for pilots, stating that the effects of alcohol can be severe, especially at altitude.</p><p>Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the plane theft in collaboration with aviation officials and other experts.</p>