Man arrested over jailbreak attempt after helicopter booking blunder

Mike Gielen used real name to book aircraft involved in attempt to break wife out of Brussels jail

A criminal who hijacked and diverted a helicopter in mid-air in an attempt to break his wife out of a Belgian prison has been arrested after detectives found he used his own name to book the flight.

Mike Gielen, 24, threatened the helicopter's pilot using a replica handgun as he sought to spring Kristel Appelt, 27, from Berkendaal women's prison in south Brussels on Friday, where she was being held on suspicion of murdering an ex-boyfriend.