AFTER CRASH-LANDING HIS MIG-19 JET FIGHTER ON A LITTLE-USED AIRSTRIP NEAR UDINE ON THURSDAY, A HUNGARIAN PILOT ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN ITALY. THE PILOT, MAJOR JOSEPH BIRO TORSO, ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY AS HIS AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES.

MAJOR TORSO TOLD POLICE THAT HE WAS PURSUED BY HUNGARIAN AIRCRAFT UNTIL HE CROSSED THE AUSTRIAN BORDER.

WHEN HE REACHED ITALY, HIS FUEL RESERVES WERE DOWN TO 44 GALLONS (ABOUT 200 LITRES). HE SPOTTED THE WORLD WAR TWO AIRFIELD -- BUILT BY THE GERMANS 17 MILES (28 KM) FROM UDINE -- AND CIRCLED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE MAKING A BELLY-LANDING.

POLICE THOUGHT HE DELIBERATELY CHOSE NOT TO LOWER THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF HIS SOVIET-BUILT FIGHTER TO AVOID OVER-SHOOTING THE RELATIVELY SHORT RUNWAY AN CRASHING INTO NEARBY HOUSES. IN RECENT YEARS, THE AIRFIELD HAS BEEN USED ONLY BY LIGHT AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS.

YESTERDAY (FRIDAY), MAJOR TORSO WAS BEING QUESTIONED BY ITALIAN SECURITY OFFICIALS.