Climate change activists threaten drone chaos in Heathrow airport protest
Climate change activists will protest at Heathrow Airport next month by flying drones at the airport in a move that could ground all flights.
Heathrow Pause, a splinter group of the Extinction Rebellion movement, says it will fly toy drones in the airport’s restricted zone from 13 September.
Read more: Extinction Rebellion threatens to gatecrash London fashion week in latest climate change protest
The action could force Heathrow to ground all flights as a safety measure.
An internal Whatsapp message reads: “We are in a climate and ecological emergency.
“As an act of conscience, we have to act. From the 13 September, we will exploit a loophole in Heathrow airport’s health and safety protocols and fly toy drones within its restricted zone.
“It is our understanding that the airport’s authorities will respond by grounding all flights. Drones will not be flown in flightpaths and there will be no risk of harm to anyone.
“We know that we will be arrested. We know that we face significant prison sentences for our actions. We have lives, we have families, we do not wish to go to prison. But we are steadfast in our resolve. We do this in defence of life. We do it because our consciences leave us no other choice but to act.”
The Heathrow Pause protest is separate from the mainstream Extinction Rebellion UK, which says it does not support action at Heathrow.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We agree with the need to act on climate change. This is a global issue that requires constructive engagement and action. Committing criminal offences and disrupting passengers is counterproductive.
“The act of flying drones within 5km of an airfield is illegal because it carries risk. We will be working closely with the Met Police and other authorities to manage and mitigate any impacts this may cause.”
Anyone caught flying a drone above 400ft or within an airport’s boundary faces an unlimited fine or up to five years in prison.
Read more: Police handed new powers to tackle illegal drones after Gatwick chaos
Earlier this year the government introduced laws that banned drones and similar model aircraft from flying within a five kilometre radius from airport runways following the havoc they wreaked at the Gatwick and Heathrow runways last year.
Last Christmas, Gatwick was forced to close its runway for three days because a drone flying near its runway was deemed a threat to passenger safety.