Mathias Rust Quotes

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.

The defence and air defence ministers were both replaced and more than 2,000 officers lost their jobs.

My plan was to land in Red Square, but there were too many people and I thought I’d cause casualties.

My parents were angry, but they were relieved that I was in good condition. They had been afraid the Russians would torture me. They told me not to do it again!

My parents came to visit every two months and brought plenty of books.

Imprisonment hit me so hard – much harder than I had thought.