Passenger Clings to German High-Speed Train After Smoking Break Mishap

A routine cigarette break turned into a life-threatening escapade for a 40-year-old Hungarian man traveling on a German high-speed ICE train. Authorities report the passenger, who lacked a valid ticket, disembarked at Ingolstadt station to smoke but failed to reboard before the train doors closed. Desperate to retrieve his belongings left onboard, he clung to a bracket between carriages as the train hurtled toward Nuremberg at speeds up to 282 km/h (175 mph).

Alerted by witnesses, police intervened, and the train made an emergency stop near Kinding in Upper Bavaria. Despite the harrowing ride, the man emerged unharmed. A state police officer aboard the train detained him until federal authorities took over in Nuremberg. Officials have confirmed he faces charges for disrupting operations, an administrative offense under German law.

Federal police issued a stern warning to the public, emphasizing the deadly risks of such actions on the country's railways. The incident highlights the dangers of split-second decisions on high-speed transport.