An Extinction Rebellion protester has forced an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin to return to the terminal at London City Airport.
Footage shared by Twitter user Warren Swalbe shows the protester telling an air hostess: “I don't wish to travel with you but I don't wish to get off.”
“I'm extremely sorry for the inconvenience,” she said.
He notes that there is a major protest underway at the airport adding: “We have two generations of human civilisation left if we carry on doing what we're doing.”
Just about to take from London city airport. Our flight was infiltrated by a climate change protestor. #londoncityairport #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/eWBeeUiGHM
— Warren Swalbe (@wazzas) October 10, 2019
A passenger can be heard asking cabin crew to “do us all a favour and remove him from the plane."
Others can he heard asking the protester to “sit down” and continue his protest in his seat.
Pictures show him later being arrested before police led him off the plane.
And now we are reboarding the flight to be greeted with a friendly welcome back from the Aer Lingus crew who dealt with the episode with calm authority
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
It comes as hundreds of protesters continue their attempt to shut down London City Airport in a three-day “Hong Kong-style occupation of the terminal building.”
A number of people have been arrested in the terminal building, where demonstrators have glued themselves to the floor.
A major security operation has been launched since the occupation began at 9am this morning.
Police Officers stand guard as an Extinction Rebellion demonstrator gestures with a banner on a raised area at City Airport in London, 10-10-2019. Image: Matt Dunham/AP/Press Association ImagesThe Metropolitan Police has not given a figure regarding how many people have been arrested; however, photos this morning showed officers carrying away demonstrators.
Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Rupert Read said: "By non-violently shutting down this airport, in homage to the style of the Hong Kong democracy protesters, we are demonstrating the utter frailty of the transport systems that countries such as ours, unwisely, have come to depend upon."
The group said hundreds of people had signed up to take part in the protest and were will to risk arrest to achieve their aims.
Police Officers stand guard as an Extinction Rebellion demonstrators peacefully block an entrance at City Airport in London, 10-10-2019. Image: Matt Dunham/AP/Press Association ImagesToday marks the fourth day the global Extinction Rebellion protests.
In Ireland, demonstrators plan to march on the Department of Agriculture dressed as trees this afternoon – calling for a complete restructuring of the State’s forestry policies.
Meanwhile, others glued themselves to the stairs leading to Red flag Consulting this morning – accusing the communications agency of being associated with “numerous harmful campaigns” and “promoting Ireland’s meat and dairy industry as sustainable.”
