Stopping flights at Heathrow

On 13 July, 12 climate change activists from anti-airport expansion direct action group, Plane Stupid, broke into Heathrow airport in west London at 3.30am. They locked-on to fencing on the north runway, disrupting flights for eight hours, leading to 22 flights being cancelled.

The protesters said that going ahead with the recent Airports Commission recommendation of a third Heathrow runway would make it impossible for the UK to meet its climate change targets.

Ella Gilbert, an activist on the runway, said: ‘We want to say sorry to anyone whose day we’ve ruined, and we’re not saying that everybody who wants to fly is a bad person. It’s those who fly frequently and unnecessarily who are driving the need for expansion, and we cannot keep ignoring the terrifying consequences of flying like there’s no tomorrow.’

A police officer was filmed telling the protesters: ‘The cost will be in the couple of millions. The airport will attempt to make a civil recovery.’

The activists have their first hearing at Uxbridge magistrates court on 19 August for aggravated trespass and a special aerodromes charge.