Observation hobbies are hobbies that involve watching something you’re interested in

IN November 2001, 14 people (12 Brits, 2 Dutch) were spotted poking around a Greek Air Force base in Kalamata, Greece. Although it was an “open” day, meant for visitors, their activities fell under suspicion: They were observed to be writing in little notebooks and were accused of taking photos in an off-limits military zone.

The group claimed they were just plane spotters (people who look at planes for a hobby). The Greek government claimed they were spies. They were arrested and thrown in prison, where they were held for six weeks, and eventually released on bail of $11,696.

Confident they would be found innocent, the plane spotters (or “spies”) were finally brought to trial. The Greek authorities quickly trotted out their notebooks and photos in court, including pics of two other military bases and numerous fighter jets. In addition to the espionage (that’s a fancy way of saying “spying”) charges, they were also accused of trespassing at restricted military airfields. The sentence for a guilty verdict? Twenty years. (Yikes!)

The group kept arguing their innocence. “We’re just nerdy people who like to look at planes! We’re just following our hobby! We’re innocent tourists! You gotta believe us!” But the Greeks weren’t convinced. (Apparently, plane spotting must not be a very popular hobby in Greece.) The authorities did reduce the charges to “illegal collection of information” (which carries a much lower sentence than espionage). But much to their shock (and chagrin), the plane spotters were found guilty. Eight of them were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while the others were given a year of jail time each. In 2003, they appealed the conviction, and all the plane spotters were acquitted (found innocent) and they were released. Finally.

Who knew that watching planes could be so risky?

But to those who do it, it’s a much-loved hobby — and the plane spotters didn’t quit, despite what they’d been through. (Although some of them did switch to watching civilian aircraft only and no longer track military planes.) Their story was eventually made into a documentary.