The COVID-19 lockdown has us a little bored, and a little stir crazy. However, we all need to keep reality in check. This was not the case with a 32-year-old Berlin man who was arrested in the capital’s eastern Koepenick district this week on allegations he impersonated aviation officials.
The man is said to have made contact with pilots of passenger and transport aircraft, as well as state and federal police helicopters, over the past six months. He would give “potentially dangerous” instructions and became increasingly professional with his communications. Many pilots in recent months were unaware that they were being duped by an imposter.
How do you track someone down like this? In a brilliant move, German police had their police helicopter make contact with him and used those transmissions to triangulate his location. Yes, the very helicopter dispatched to find him was his ultimate undoing.
Police searched his home and found radios with the ability to communicate on aircraft frequencies in Germany.
No accidents or other incidents occurred due to his actions.
The lesson? Use your time a bit more constructively during COVID-19 than endangering others lives.