Climate activists flying drones plan to close Heathrow airport for a week

The airport said the move was ‘counterproductive’ and ‘illegal’

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: A British Airways plane taxis from Heathrow's Terminal 5 on October 25, 2016 in London, England. At a cabinet committee meeting today the government approved a third runwShow more

Climate change campaigners have warned they will attempt to ensure a week-long disruption of flights at the UK’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, from September 13.

The “Heathrow Pause,” who are a number of independent individuals concerned over global warming but with close ties to the Extinction Rebellion group, chose the airport because of a proposed expansion to a third runway.

They want to exploit a “loophole” in Heathrow's protocol that they say states that all flights are grounded if a drone flies at any height of any size within its exclusion zone.

Organisers insist there will be no harm to any aircraft with drones being flown outside of flights paths and before the first aeroplane takes off. They then wish to stop flights for “at least a number of days and we would be hoping over a week.” The drones will be flown below head height and are the size of a tennis ball.

Heathrow Pause will meet with airport officials and police on Friday, and said it was aware its members could be arrested.

“To be honest, if you’re talking about an easier way, this is a remarkably easy way. I can’t think of any easier way to make a bigger statement,” a spokesperson for Heathrow Pause said.

“There’s such an enormous gulf between words and deeds that it is quite staggering. It would be hilariously funny if it wasn’t for the fact that its actually threatens to kill us all,” he added.

Heathrow airport, which had some 80 million passengers in 2018, said the action was “illegal” and would work with the authorities to mitigate the impact.

"We agree with the need to act on climate change. This is a global issue that requires constructive engagement and action. Committing criminal offences and disrupting passengers is counterproductive," the airport added.