Climate activists of the so-called “last generation” tried to paralyze Munich Airport on Saturday morning at the start of the Whitsun holidays in Bavaria. At dawn, six members of the group entered the airport premises. According to reports, they made it onto the tarmac of the northern runway in three groups of two before the police and security forces could intervene.
According to the protesters’ own statements, they “sat down on the tarmac before the regular start of air traffic and thus prevented the planes from getting through.” At Munich Airport there is a ban on night flights between midnight and 5 a.m. and limited operations between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Air traffic will begin regularly from 6 a.m. At around 5:30 a.m. there was no real talk of “shutdown or blockade”. In any case, it was not observed that any aircraft had turned off so far.
According to their own statements, the protesters hoisted a banner that read: “The problem is the government – not our vacation.” Another banner in the style of a yellow town exit sign shows the crossed-out term “Flight Shame” and above it the goal: “Government Plan”.
A year and a half ago, in December 2022, members of the “Last Generation” tried to disrupt operations at Munich Airport. At that time, four men managed to stick themselves to a taxiway and ensure that the northern runway was also closed for a short time. However, they were ultimately only able to affect flight operations for three quarters of an hour in the morning. Three women were stopped in the southern part of the airport before they could get over the fence.
The activists were investigated for attempted dangerous interference with air traffic, damage to property, trespassing and coercion. After the action, Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) called for the security concept at Munich Airport to be reviewed immediately.