He began studying at Veszprém Heavy Industrial University, but feared being caught up in the purges of the early 1950s. He left off his studies and took manual employment, frequently changing jobs. He wanted to defect from Hungary. In spring 1956, he met György Polyák, a former pilot. On July 13, 1956, Iszák had the idea of hijacking an L1 type aircraft used for the scheduled Budapest-Szombathely-Zalaegerszeg flight. The group, eventually of seven people, took control and the plane landed safely at a Nato base near Igolstadt. Iszák has lived in the United States since August 1957. He is now director of his own yoga school and a private detective in Del Mar, California.