German jumps to death after pilot fights off hijack attempt

A suicidal man tried to bring down a light aeroplane over Germany in a bid to take his own life.

But after a dramatic knife-fight in the cockpit, the disturbed passenger leapt 1,500 feet without a parachute to his death.

Authorities praised army-trained pilot Markus Koenig, 42, for fending off Pascal Reuther, 26, thus avoiding a crash over a populated area near Augsburg that could have had "disastrous consequences" for people on the ground.

The drama happened on a Cessna light plane on Saturday. Reuther, who had a ticket for a joyride in the Bavarian skies, was seated behind the pilot. A few minutes into the flight he produced a knife, which he held to Mr Koenig's throat, and screamed: "I don't want to live any more. I want to die in the plane."

The Army veteran pilot, who has flown numerous missions in Afghanistan, was struck in the face and hands as he jerked the plane around.

When Reuther realised his plan was not going to succeed, he ripped open the side door and hurled himself out, eventually crashing through the roof of a riding stables at Palsweis near Munich.

Simon Loder, the owner of the property, found the body. "His head was completely smashed in. He wouldn't have stood a chance." Police said Reuther was naked, his clothes torn off by the force of his fall. They later found a suicide note at his home.

Mr Koenig managed to put out a mayday message and land his aircraft safely.