Czech news in brief for September 7: Sunday's top headlines

A small ultralight plane crashed in a forest near Prague’s Letňany Airport Sunday, killing two people, police said. The pilot reported a malfunction shortly after takeoff and tried to return, but failed. Firefighters confirmed both victims died at the scene. Investigators from the aviation accident institute and police are examining the cause. Emergency crews, including air rescuers, responded but could not help.

ANO would win upcoming parliamentary elections with 30.7 percent of the vote according to the latest STEM poll, down slightly from last week. The governing Spolu coalition follows with 20.3 percent, while SPD holds 12.9 percent. STAN has 10.5 percent and the Pirates 9.2 percent. Stačilo! rose to 7.4 percent, its best result yet. The Motorists also crossed the 5 percent threshold with 5.5 percent. The poll was conducted Aug. 14–Sept. 2 among 1,500 voters.

The Czech Extraliga season opens Tuesday with České Budějovice hosting Sparta. Defending champion Kometa Brno will face challenges from Pardubice, Sparta, and Třinec, while Olomouc enters as the outsider. The 52-round regular season ends March 6 before playoffs. Notable changes include new coaches such as Filip Pešán in Pardubice and roster boosts with NHL veterans and Czech national team players.

The Prague Municipal Court ordered Rector Milena Králíčková not to appoint a new dean of Charles University’s Catholic Theological Faculty until it issues a ruling. Aleš Prázny, designated by ousted dean Jaroslav Brož, remains in charge for now. Disputes over faculty leadership have lasted months, with the faculty senate set to hold a dean election Sept. 30, the same day the court will hear the case.

Police in the Příbram region stopped a red Formula 1-style car racing along the D4 highway Sunday morning. The 51-year-old driver, wearing racing gear and a helmet, was tracked to his home in Buk and taken for questioning. The car, unlicensed and unsafe for public roads, has appeared in similar incidents before. Authorities are investigating whether the driver participated in previous D4 races.

Defence Minister Jana Černochová said Friday she had a basalioma removed from her face at Prague’s Central Military Hospital. The 51-year-old minister shared the news on X, urging Czechs not to neglect preventive care. Basalioma is a malignant skin tumor that grows slowly and rarely spreads. The sample will undergo testing. Other Czech politicians have also recently disclosed cancer diagnoses.

Czechia will witness its first total lunar eclipse in six years this evening, with the next due in December 2028. The Moon will rise in full eclipse at 7:29 p.m., peak at 8:12 p.m., and end by 9:56 p.m. Astronomers say the Moon may appear nearly invisible at first, later glowing orange-red. Clear skies are forecast, and observatories nationwide, including Prague, Ostrava, and Opava, will host public viewings.

Residents of Tvarožná, near Brno, say a neighbor disrupted the village with nonstop religious music, Bible readings and flashing lights for two weeks after being denied permits to build houses. Officials say he did not violate noise limits or night quiet hours, but police and the ombudsman are reviewing the case. Locals believe the protest was meant to pressure authorities into approving his construction plans.

A tree fell Saturday on vendor stalls and a power unit along T.G. Masaryk Street in Karlovy Vary, injuring two sellers during a nearby folklore festival. A 55-year-old woman suffered minor injuries and a 62-year-old man was hospitalized with moderate injuries. Seven fire units responded to clear the tree. Police and city officials are investigating whether the municipal tree was in sound condition.

Czech parties report higher interest among supporters in joining election commissions ahead of October’s parliamentary vote. ANO has registered 6,716 people, nearly double 2021 levels, while the Pirates signed up 3,483 and STAN 1,337. The Enough! party says it will focus on larger cities. Parties say thousands volunteered to ensure ballot oversight after past counting errors.

Přerov Airport has begun testing a new technology to monitor drones and improve safety, operator LOM Praha said Friday. The system uses a stationary Dronetag Scout receiver that identifies drones with Remote ID, tracking type, pilot distance and location in real time. The airport is one of the busiest in Central Moravia and will host army drone and helicopter units starting in 2026.

Some regions in Ukraine face severe drinking water shortages due to war-damaged infrastructure, mainly in the south and east, experts and Czech envoy Tomáš Kopečný said. NGOs report families often rely on tanker trucks or costly private providers. Czech aid has focused on Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, where water systems remain heavily damaged. Despite international help reaching 4.9 million people last year, over 8.5 million still need assistance, according to the UN.