In a daring act of protest, eight climate activists were arrested after breaching the grounds of Munich airport, causing chaos and disruption during a busy holiday weekend. The activists, members of the climate group Last Generation, staged a demonstration by gluing themselves to a runway, leading to the closure of the airport and the cancellation of around 60 flights.
The group criticized the government for subsidizing airlines at the expense of rail travel, with one sign reading, “Problem is the government, not our holiday.” Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, condemned the activists’ actions, stating that they endangered air traffic and harmed climate protection efforts.
Following the incident, Germany’s transport minister, Volker Wissing, called for new laws to classify such actions as criminal offenses, punishable by up to two years in prison. The disruption at the airport, which lasted nearly two hours, resulted in 11 flights being diverted, 60 cancellations, and possible delays for passengers.
The protest occurred during one of the busiest travel periods for the airport, second only to the Easter holidays. The airport spokesperson confirmed that security measures would be reviewed in light of the incident. The activists’ bold demonstration has sparked a debate on the balance between environmental activism and the impact on air travel.