Born: 1968
Birthplace: Wedel, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Aviator

Nationality: Germany
Executive summary: Flew Cessna to Red Square

As an unstable young aviator with only 50 hours flying experience, on 28 May 1987 Rust deliberately flew his Cessna F172P into the Soviet Union, bypassed all air defenses, and landed just outside Red Square in Moscow. The landing was dealt a serious blow to the image of the Soviet military, which permitted Mikhail Gorbachev to dismiss several adversaries, including Defense Minister Sergei Sokolov and Air Marshal Alexander Koldunov. Rust himself received a four-year sentence for his stunt, but was released after less than one year as a gesture of goodwill.

Whatever charm Rust had earned was probably lost when he stabbed a student nurse seven times in 1989, the injuries nearly killing her. As a defense he claimed diminished capacity, alleging the Soviets had drugged him with a truth serum during his incarceration there. Rust was convicted by a three-judge panel of attempted manslaughter and served a light sentence, 15 months in jail.

    Attempted Manslaughter 1989 (convicted, served 15 months)
    Shoplifting 2001 (fined DM 600)
    Fraud 2005 (fined €1,500)

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile

Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications