Mathias Rust quotes:

After that I couldn't show my face outside. I lost my identity and balance. I was still living with my parents, and they were my only friends. For so many people, this thing with the nurse was confirmation that I must be mad or mentally ill.

I now work for a finance company in Luxembourg with projects in South America and the Caribbean.

I regret what happened. I saw no other possibility to achieve my goal. It was not hooliganism.

I ended up injuring her with a knife I had on me. I can't really remember what happened.

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.

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!

Once this key conflict is eased, it will have a huge impact on the world. It will take time to find a solution. It's similar to the situation between East and the West at the time of my flight.

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

I got my private pilot's license in autumn 1986.

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

I had thought about landing in the Kremlin, but there wasn't enough space.

I don't have my pilot's licence anymore, but I'm still very political.