Protestors from climate change pressure group Plane Stupid caused flight delays at Aberdeen airport this morning when they broke onto the runway and occupied the terminal roof.
All nine protestors, five men and four women, were later arrested by Grampian police – the seven on the runway shortly after 8.15am and the two rooftop protestors at 9.30am.
The police and BAA are working to minimise the impact of the protest. Police said an investigation into the incident will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.
Plane Stupid maintains the protestors gave themselves up voluntarily after they were told the runway needed to be cleared because a sick child needed treatment – something Plane Stupid claims later turned out to be untrue.
Plane Stupid spokesperson Leo Murray described the ruse as “cynical”. “I find it absolutely astonishing that they would invent a sick baby just in order to serve the commercial interests of the airport,” he said.
The protest is the latest in a number of high profile incidents staged by the group. Most recently it brought business to a halt at Standsted airport in order to draw attention to its opposition to the airport’s extension.