Kalocsa, Hungary, 29 August 2026 — An aircraft theft triggered a military response in Hungary on Saturday after a 24-year-old man stole a Cessna 172 from Kalocsa airfield and took off without authorisation. The aircraft flew towards the town of Paks, home to Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, prompting the Hungarian Air Force to deploy two Gripen fighter jets. The incident ended with an emergency landing near Gerjen, and no injuries were reported.
The theft at Kalocsa Airfield
According to Hungarian police, the suspect, a 24-year-old man from Szomor, stole the single-engine Cessna 172 from Kalocsa airfield on Saturday morning before departing without permission. Authorities later said the man was reportedly intoxicated and appeared confused during the incident.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence stated that military radar detected the aircraft shortly after takeoff as it headed towards the restricted airspace surrounding the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.
Fighter jets scrambled
The aircraft’s flight path raised immediate concern as Paks is protected by one of Hungary’s most heavily restricted airspaces. Civilian aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres within a three-kilometre radius of the nuclear facility.
Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed that two Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters on quick reaction alert were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Rather than engaging the Cessna, the fighters tracked and monitored its movements as it continued towards Paks.
Emergency landing near Gerjen
Minutes later, the stolen Cessna made an emergency landing in a sunflower field near Gerjen, close to Paks. The aircraft’s landing gear collapsed on touchdown, leaving it resting at an angle on one wing.
The suspect exited the aircraft and attempted to flee on foot before approaching a passing motorist. Police said he entered the vehicle and tried to drive away, but the driver prevented him from doing so until officers arrived and arrested him.
The 24-year-old remains in custody while the Hungarian Transportation Safety Bureau (KBSZ), local police and military authorities continue investigating the incident.
