Members of the environmental group ‘Just Stop Oil’ spray orange paint on 2 private jets to draw … [+]
The airline industry will finally fully recover from COVID-19 in 2024. After declining to just 16.9 million flights in 2020, airlines will surpass their 2019 record of 38.9 million and hit a new peak of 40.1 million flights in 2024. This year will also see a record 4.7 billion airline passengers.
But as COVID recedes, a new threat to the $996 billion airline industry has appeared. Radical activists, primarily climate and pro-Palestinian, have targeted aviation and airports in the U.S. and Europe. So far most of the damage has been financial and in delays to thousands of travelers. However, police officers have been injured, while aircraft have had to divert to avoid landing on people whose hands were glued to runways.
On June 19, a pair of self-proclaimed climate activists apparently sawed open a chain link fence at Stansted Airport in the UK. Once inside, they attacked two private jet aircraft with a paint spraying gun, doing at least $65,000 worth of damage. They initially claimed that one jet belonged to megastar singer Taylor Swift, although her plane was not at the airport.
Proud of their actions, the two British protesters, Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22, shot video of the break-in. It showed them cutting open the fence and using fire extinguishers to give the planes a new orange coat of paint. It was also said that they delayed up to 75 flights.
British authorities said they were arrested “within 9 minutes.” They were charged with criminal damage, aggravated trespass and importantly, “interfering with national infrastructure.” In a refreshing change, a UK judge refused to immediately release the pair.
Climate change activists have also spraypainted Stonehenge and interrupted the 18th hole of the PGA Travelers Championship tournament, wearing “NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET” T-shirts.
Tom Kim of South Korea shakes hands with Scottie Scheffler of the United States after he went on to … [+]
Just Stop Oil took credit for the airport attack, as they did for the Stonehenge re-painting. Just Stop Oil said, “80% of the population have never taken a flight. Just 1% of people cause 50% of global aviation emissions. Private jet users are responsible for up to 14x as much carbon emissions compared with a commercial flight.” The Stansted attackers were said to be making a statement on the need for an “emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030.”
The attack on Stansted is just one of a spate of recent attempts to ‘interfere with national infrastructure’ in the name of some greater good. A potentially more serious attack occurred in May at Munich Airport, when six climate ‘protestors’ glued themselves to the runway approaches to protest pollution caused by flying. Thousands were delayed. In 2022, activists glued themselves to the runway at Berlin Airport, putting themselves and passengers at risk. Activists have previously blocked roads to Heathrow Airport and broken into private jet terminals in the U.S.
Climate activists like to target private jets, ostensibly because they create more carbon per passenger. Other reasons might be easier access to private jet fields, and the priceless publicity they receive by targeting jet-setting celebrities like Taylor Swift. But while the private jet industry is certainly threatened, airlines are also on their no-fly list.
These airport assaults are not just outrageous and annoying. They not only challenge the freedom of millions of people to travel, but also create a threat to passengers, airport workers, law enforcement officers and to the protesters themselves.
In the US, pro-Palestinian protests have not been limited to building illegal university encampments and harassing students.
Since October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and killed, raped and kidnapped more than 1400 people, pro-Palestine protestors have tried to block national transportation infrastructure like airports, highways, bridges, tunnels and train stations.
New York Police Department officers block a slip road as supporters of Palestine drive in convoy … [+]
Protestors at universities have even targeted aviation. TENET Media reported on June 14 that a “Pro-Palestine UCLA protestor hits a news chopper with a laser,” posting images of the alleged attack.
Yet there has been little or no Federal investigation.
Major US airports like JFK, LGA, LAX, PDX, ORD, SEA and ATL have all been blocked, some multiple times. Travelers have had to abandoned their rideshare vehicles and struggled to push heavy luggage to their terminal.
In a violent protest at LAX in December 2023, pro-Palestinian protestors attempted to block an approach road. They strewed the road with tree limbs, garbage cans, traffic cones, electric scooters and construction debris. Stalled drivers were attacked in their vehicles, a police officer was thrown to the ground, and 36 arrests were made.
The law enforcement response has been all over the map. No arrests were made despite a two-hour road blockade at PDX (Portland) on New Year’s Day, or on June 3 at ATL. However, on December 27, when pro-Palestinian protestors launched a coordinated simultaneous roadblock attempt at 3PM at JFK, noon at #LAX, New York and Los Angeles police arrested a total of 62 people.
The local police response has varied, but what has been consistent has been the lack of Federal action to deal with what is clearly a national problem.
Travelers wait to cross Sepulveda Blvd. as police make sure there are no more pro-Palestinian … [+]
On June 2, there was an attempted shutdown or takeover of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta (ATL) the busiest airport in the United States.
As was at least the 10th attempted U.S. airport blockade by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, I asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) for comment.
I received this statement; “DOT and the FAA do not own or operate airports. Airport authorities, local law enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, are responsible for airport security. The Department respects the First Amendment right to protest, but that activity should never jeopardize the safety of travelers or workers. When safety is threatened, law enforcement should use the full extent of their authority to intervene and investigate.”
The response from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was similar. A spokesman said, “Vehicles participating in a protest off ATL property have driven through the Airport’s public roadways. Police and ATL staff are monitoring. There is no impact to operations.”
I received no response from queries directed to the FBI, the Department of Justice and the TSA.
Pro-Palestinian protesters are arrested for trying to block traffic along Century Blvd. into LAX in … [+]
Regardless of whatever charges airport vandals and road blockers face, they are unilaterally abridging a basic human right—the freedom to travel. According to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13,
Within the U.S., the right to travel inside and between the states is a fundamental right of citizenship.
The threat against travel is not just to the Taylor Swifts of the world. The United States and Europe must crack down on those who attack our airports before a tragedy occurs.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – 2023/12/03: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains profanity) A man is seen holding a … [+]
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