Activists block the runway in Munich – planes with an emergency patient had to be diverted
Climate sticker on the north runway from Munich Airport
The “Last Generation” has blocked roads and attacked paintings in the past. Now she has succeeded a second time in disrupting flight operations at a large airport.
Activists of the “Last Generation” blocked a runway at Munich Airport in the morning. One of the two runways was temporarily closed. A plane with an emergency patient could only land 20 minutes later. In Berlin, the activists failed with a similar action.
WBecause of the climate protests at Munich Airport, a plane carrying an emergency patient was only able to land about 20 minutes late on Thursday morning. According to information from the police, a machine approaching Munich reported a medical emergency at 8.30 a.m. As a result, the plane was supposed to touch down on the northern runway at 9:18 a.m., but then had to be diverted to the southern runway due to the closure there, where it was only able to land at 9:38 a.m.
“An 80-year-old passenger complained of chest pains. As things stand, he is currently in a stable condition, thank God,” said Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) at the request of the German Press Agency in Munich.
“Thank God, a more serious acute illness such as a heart attack had not been confirmed. But that was just luck and not foreseeable when the plane was still in the air,” emphasized Herrmann. Especially in emergencies, minutes often make the difference between life and death. The incident makes it clear how callous and conscious these climate lunatics play with the lives of other people. “On the one hand, posing as a do-gooder and, on the other hand, endangering life doesn’t go together.”
Wissing condemns “criminal activities”
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) has condemned the burglary and blockade of a runway at Munich Airport by supporters of the self-proclaimed “last generation”. “With their criminal machinations, the activists of the ‘last generation’ are endangering the social consensus,” Wissing said in a written statement. “A democracy decides on the basis of majorities and cannot be blackmailed,” emphasized the minister. At the same time, the rule of law must “resolutely defend itself” against criminals.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said on the sidelines of a visit to the South African capital of Pretoria that protests against environmental destruction or against climate destruction were justified and correct. “But it should be chosen in such a way that people do not suffer unnecessarily, so that public acceptance of climate protection is not endangered.”
Runway North closed for a short time – flight operations hardly affected
Activists of the self-proclaimed “Last Generation” invaded the grounds of Munich Airport on Thursday and blocked the northern runway. The runway was briefly closed to flight operations.
Activists of the “Last Generation” had stuck themselves on the runway at Munich Airport
Source: REUTERS
It was released again relatively shortly after the closure, as an airport spokesman said. “They were removed very quickly by the federal police.” Also because the southern runway was in continuous operation, there were no cancellations of flights and only minor delays, it said. The activists were arrested.
According to the airport, the activists stuck to the runway in the north of the airport. According to the airport, the activists had also tried to get onto the site on the south side of the airport, but were prevented from doing so by the police.
The Last Generation group said during the protest: “We are always ready for constructive talks, as we did yesterday with the Bavarian Minister of the Interior (Joachim Herrmann). But what we need in the face of the looming climate hell are actions and not just empty words,” said spokeswoman Aimée van Baalen.
Another blockade at BER fails
According to their own statements, climate protection demonstrators have tried again to disrupt operations at Berlin Airport. According to the federal police, they ended the operation against climate activists at the capital’s BER airport and released demonstrators who were stuck from the runway. Flight operations were not affected, said a spokeswoman for the Berlin Federal Police Headquarters on Thursday morning.
Two climate activists had previously gained access to the security area of the airport and got onto the tarmac. They would have stuck there. Six other climate activists did not get to the airport site. “We reacted quickly,” said the spokeswoman for the federal police. Since the last incident at BER Airport, the forces have been increased.
The Last Generation protest group said members had entered the premises and were on the airport tarmac. A dpa photographer reported that a group of climate protectors cut a hole in a fence, but were then intercepted by security guards or police officers. According to the observations, flight operations continued.
At the end of November, the group paralyzed the Berlin capital’s BER airport for almost two hours. At that time, two groups, each consisting of several people, gained access to the airport premises. According to police, some of them were glued to the ground. The group itself said that some activists rode bicycles across the site. Berlin Airport had stopped operations on both runways.
The group, which recently also frequently blocked roads in Munich and Berlin, demands better climate protection from the federal government and demands, among other things, a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour on motorways and a 9-euro train ticket for the whole of Germany.
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