Two individuals have been arrested following a protest by Just Stop Oil activists who painted several private jets orange at an airfield, where Taylor Swift’s jet reportedly landed just hours earlier.
It’s not confirmed if Swift’s jet was among those targeted. The protesters are calling for an “emergency treaty” to halt fossil fuel use by 2030.
Stansted Airport reported that Essex Police arrested two individuals and temporarily suspended runway operations as a precaution.
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The arrests occurred shortly after 5am when two protesters entered the private aviation area of the airfield, away from the main passenger terminal. The spokesperson confirmed that no flights were disrupted, and operations continued as normal.
Essex Police reported that two planes were damaged and officers were on the scene within minutes. Just Stop Oil posted videos online showing activists breaking into the private airfield at Stansted Airport, where they claimed Swift’s jet was stationed.
Swift is scheduled to perform three shows at Wembley Stadium in London over the weekend as part of her Eras Tour, having recently performed in Cardiff. It remains unclear if her plane was among those targeted.
Footage shows protesters Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald cutting through a fence and spraying orange paint on the planes. Just Stop Oil warned of more demonstrations targeting key areas of the fossil fuel economy globally this summer unless leaders take protective action.
Regarding the Thursday morning incident, Just Stop Oil stated that Kowalski and Macdonald entered the private airfield and painted two jets using fire extinguishers filled with orange paint. Macdonald, 22, from Brighton, criticized the disparity between the lifestyles of billionaires and the harsh conditions faced by millions. Kowalski, 28, from Dumbarton, emphasized the need for daily actions to change societal direction.
Essex Police confirmed the arrest of two women, aged 22 and 28, on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with national infrastructure. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow assured the public of a heightened police presence at the airport this summer. He emphasized that while the police are not anti-protest, they will act against criminal activities.
Anslow reassured passengers and the public of the police’s preparedness to handle such incidents. The response was swift, with officers arriving almost immediately after being alerted to the incident, which occurred away from the main passenger terminal.
Just Stop Oil’s protest at Stansted follows an incident where they sprayed orange paint on Stonehenge. The group has warned of continued resistance this summer if the government fails to take significant action. They demand a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, with threats of international resistance from supporters in Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and Switzerland if their governments do not act meaningfully.
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