An Albanian pilot has been detained in France after flying a light aircraft over the Penly nuclear power plant, in the Normandy region, at a lower altitude than allowed for this sensitive area.
According to the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD), the detained person is suspected to be Ermal Beqiraj, the Albanian businessman wanted by SPAK in the framework of the investigations into the National Agency for the Information Society (AKSHI) file. To date, there has been no official confirmation from the French or Albanian authorities of his identity.
According to the JDD, the incident occurred on Saturday, when the civilian aircraft flew over the Penly nuclear power plant, descending below the minimum permitted flight limit. After being alerted, the French Air Force escorted the aircraft to Albert airport, where the pilot was detained by police for questioning.
The French newspaper reports that during the physical search, police found three AirTag devices, while the pilot's answers and flight itinerary raised suspicions among investigators. According to the same source, he stated that the descent was unintentional and that he was talking on the phone with his mother at the time.
JDD writes that the pilot was fined for violating flight rules and that the case was then referred to French structures specialized in investigating organized crime. However, so far, French authorities have not made public the espionage charges and have not officially confirmed the identity of the detained person.
On the other hand, it is a confirmed fact that Ermal Beqiraj has been declared wanted by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) in the file known as the AKSHI tender scandal. According to SPAK, charges related to corruption, manipulation of public procurement procedures, money laundering and participation in a structured criminal group have been filed against him.
Until the publication of an official response from French or Albanian authorities, the connection between the detained pilot and businessman Ermal Beqiraj remains information reported by the French media outlet Le Journal du Dimanche, without official confirmation from the responsible institutions.
