You have to be young to be able to do things like that. Now I'm more cautious. I'm proud that I was able to do what I did - psychologically it was a great wall to climb - but sometimes I regret it.
From Mathias Rust
I got my private pilot's license in autumn 1986.
I didn't tell anybody about my plan because I was convinced my family or friends would stop me. I didn't think much about what would happen afterwards.
My plan was to land in Red Square, but there were too many people and I thought I'd cause casualties.
I had thought about landing in the Kremlin, but there wasn't enough space.
I wanted to choose somewhere public, because I was scared of the KGB.
I approached Red Square three times, trying to find somewhere to land, before discovering a wide bridge nearby. I landed there and taxied into Red Square.
The defence and air defence ministers were both replaced and more than 2,000 officers lost their jobs.
My parents came to visit every two months and brought plenty of books.
I had one companion. He was a teacher from the Ukraine who spoke English so we could communicate a bit. I learnt a few Russian words, but it was hard to concentrate.
3 perspectives
2 perspectives
1 perspectives