Helsinki bus stolen while driver absent early Sunday morning, shocking local residents and raising serious questions about public transport security.
It all started around Mellunmäki metro station. The official bus driver had briefly stepped away from the vehicle. In that short window, a man jumped in, started the bus, and drove off with no permission or training. This wasn’t just any vehicle. It was one of the city’s modern electric buses operated by Helsinki Region Transport, known as HSL.
He didn’t get far. The ride lasted roughly ten minutes. The man took the Itäväylä motorway heading into central Helsinki. Along the way, he even picked up a passenger.
Police were quick to respond. Patrols spotted the stolen bus crossing the Kulosaari bridge. Officers signaled him to stop, but he kept going, steering the massive vehicle into the busy Sörnäinen area. They eventually forced the bus to a stop on Vilhonvuorenkatu.
Inside were two passengers. One had already been on board before the theft. The second had unknowingly stepped into the drama when the bus made an unauthorized stop. Police confirmed neither of them was involved in the crime.
When officers approached, the suspect was clearly under the influence. Drunk, but oddly calm, he reportedly told police that he made no mistakes behind the wheel. He also didn’t hold a bus driver’s licence.
Detective Chief Inspector Mikko Minkkinen from Helsinki Police said the man described his actions as “impulsive” and something that “just happened.”
He now faces several charges, including aggravated drunk driving, unauthorized use of a vehicle, driving without a licence, and traffic endangerment.
Thankfully, no one was hurt and no damage occurred. The bus was returned safely to HSL.
But for many in Helsinki, the incident left a strange mark. A quiet Sunday turned into a surreal ride, all because someone made a reckless choice that could have ended much worse.
