Stansted Airport Closes and Reopens Due to Protests

At about 3:15 yesterday morning, Plane Stupid, who opposes airport expansion, environmental activists with wire cutters cut through one of the Stansted Airport’s perimeter fences, setting up a camp and chaining theirselves together on security fencing, which they brought with them, close to the runway.

Due to the protesting by about 57 protesters, the airport, which is the 3^rd busiest in London, was forced to shutdown, cancel several flights, and delay thousands of passengers. The incident is a huge embarrassment to the British Airports Authority and is the second incident where demonstrators have occupied one of the major airports in Britain.

Nearly 5 hours later, about 8:15am, the protesters were cut free by police so that the airport could resume flights. Fifty-seven activists were arrested by officers, and they were taken away on a shuttle bus. The goal of Plane Stupid was a protest against the expansion of a second runway at the Stansted Airport.

The group said in a statement that the disruption stopped thousands of tons of emissions from entering the atmosphere and that the aviation industry is the quickest growing source of gas emissions, contributing to 13% of the United Kingdom’s carbon budget.

Ryanair, the largest low-cost carrier in Europe, was made to cancel over 50 of their flights to and from the Stansted Airport and called for an investigation on why the security was unable to keep the airport secure.

Officials of the airport said that there will be an airport security review and defended the fast actions that were taken. They run an airport; not a fortress, a spokesman said, and the police and security staff intercepted the protesters without allowing any to get onto the runway. They added that they will be investigating the incident.

Find out more about the airport at: www.stanstedairport.com