- Six activists from Last Generation carried out the stunt to protest against flying
- The disruption lasted for a few hours and caused 60 flights to be cancelled
- German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said protest would ‘only cause anger’
Climate activists caused chaos at Munich Airport on Saturday after gluing themselves to the runway, which resulted in a temporary halt to flights arriving and departing.
Six eco-warriors from Letzte Generation (Last Generation) carried out the stunt to protest against flying as the most polluting form of transportation, according to German news agency dpa.
The disruption lasted for a few hours, causing 60 flights to be cancelled and passengers needing to be rebooked on alternative flights, airport spokesperson Robert Wilhelm told dpa.
Fourteen flights that were due to land in Munich were diverted to other airports, according to police.
The six activists were eventually detained by police and the airport has resumed normal operations.
Six climate activists from Last Generation glued themselves to the tarmac at Munich Airport on Saturday to protest against flying, which they say is the most polluting form of travel
![One of the activists at Munich Airport sat with a sign on the tarmac that read: 'The problem is the Government, not our holidays'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/17/85043499-13433347-image-a-19_1716050886515.jpg)
One of the activists at Munich Airport sat with a sign on the tarmac that read: ‘The problem is the Government, not our holidays’
On a post appearing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Last Generation accused the German government of ‘downplaying’ the negative effects of flying on the environment instead of ‘finally acting sincerely.’
According to Times of India, one of the posts stated: ‘A total of six people are sitting in two groups on different locations of Munich Airport.’
Footage of the protesters also appeared on X.
In one video, a protester speaking in German who identified himself as Malte, said: ‘I am sitting here today at Munich Airport, because the Government still does not have a plan to prevent disaster.
‘We must speak the truth. Some things have to be shut down, some things we can no longer afford.
‘The airports must be shut down by the Government.
‘That is the elephant in the room that we must address.’
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for an end to such protests. ‘Such criminal actions threaten air traffic and harm climate protection because they only cause lack of understanding and anger,’ she wrote on X.
![The disruption lasted for a few hours, causing 60 flights to be cancelled and passengers needing to be rebooked on alternative flights](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/17/85043637-13433347-image-a-22_1716051183382.jpg)
The disruption lasted for a few hours, causing 60 flights to be cancelled and passengers needing to be rebooked on alternative flights
![Fourteen flights that were due to land in Munich were diverted to other airports, police said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/17/85043505-13433347-image-a-20_1716050992169.jpg)
Fourteen flights that were due to land in Munich were diverted to other airports, police said
Fraser also applauded police efforts to bring order back to the airport and called for airport safety measures to be checked.
Minister for Transport Volker Wissing said that his ministry was already working on further tightening existing laws.
The general manager of the German Airports Association, Ralph Beisel, also criticised the activists’ actions.
‘Trespassing the aviation security area is no trivial offense. Over hundreds of thousands of passengers were prevented from a relaxed and punctual start to their Pentecost holiday,’ he told dpa.
Beisel called for harsher penalties for activists who break into airports.
Last July, climate activities blocked flights at Hamburg and Duesseldorf airports for several hours.
In January, Last Generation – known for infuriating many Germans by gluing themselves to streets in an effort to block traffic – said it would abandon the tactic and move on to holding what it calls ‘disobedient assemblies.’
Their actions have been widely criticised, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz describing them as ‘completely nutty.’
![German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for an end to such protests and for airport safety measures to be checked at Munich Airport](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/17/85043503-13433347-image-a-23_1716051205375.jpg)
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for an end to such protests and for airport safety measures to be checked at Munich Airport
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