Mathias Rust's landing on Red Square: history and facts

1. On May 28, 1987 (exactly 35 years ago), a Cessna sports plane belonging to a German citizen landed near Red Square.

2. The pilot of the aircraft turned out to be 19-year-old athlete Mathias Rust, who later explained his act in court as a "call for peace."

3. The Soviet air defense forces recorded a violation of the USSR airspace by Rust at 14.20 over the Gulf of Finland near the Estonian city of Kohtla-Jarve, but they did not shoot down the plane.

4. After the incident, more than 300 officers lost their positions, including the Commander-in-chief of the air defense forces and the Minister of Defense.

5. A young German pilot was sentenced to 4 years, but after spending a little more than a year in prison, he was pardoned.