Climate Activists Glue Themselves at Munich Airport, Temporarily Shutting Down Flights

Six climate activists made headlines over the weekend when they broke through a security fence at Munich airport and glued themselves to access routes leading to runways, causing a temporary shutdown of flights. The activists, part of the group Last Generation, were protesting flying as the most polluting form of transportation, according to the German news agency dpa.

As a result of their actions, around 60 flights were canceled, and passengers had to be rebooked on alternative flights. Additionally, fourteen flights that were supposed to land in Munich had to be diverted to other airports, causing inconvenience to travelers.

The German government has been criticized by Last Generation for downplaying the negative effects of flying on the environment. In response, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for an end to such protests, citing the potential harm to air traffic and climate protection efforts.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing stated that his ministry is already working on tightening existing laws to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, Ralph Beisel, the general manager of the German Airports Association, criticized the activists’ actions, calling for harsher penalties for those who break into airports.

This is not the first time Last Generation activists have caused disruptions at airports. In January, the group announced they would be shifting their tactics to holding “disobedient assemblies” after facing criticism from German officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who described their actions as “completely nutty.”

The incident at Munich airport follows similar protests at Hamburg and Duesseldorf airports last year, demonstrating the persistence and determination of climate activists in their fight against environmental pollution caused by air travel.