Just Stop Oil Activists Spray Private Jets at London Stansted Airport in Protest Against Fossil Fuels
Activists targeted private jets at London Stansted Airport with orange paint as part of a campaign to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, raising concerns about rare lichen at Stonehenge.
On June 20, 2024, Just Stop Oil activists targeted London Stansted Airport in Essex, where they sprayed orange paint on private jets, including an airfield purportedly used by pop star Taylor Swift. The incident took place early in the morning around 5 a.m., with protesters Jennifer Kowalski, a 28-year-old former sustainability manager, and 22-year-old Cole Macdonald breaching security to carry out the act.
The protest is part of a broader campaign urging the next UK government to commit to phasing out fossil fuels by 2030. Just Stop Oil’s actions come a day after they sprayed the historic Stonehenge monument with orange paint, leading to the arrests of two activists. There were concerns expressed about the potential damage to rare lichen growing on Stonehenge due to the paint.
Taylor Swift’s private jet reportedly landed at Stansted just hours before the protest, though it is unclear if her aircraft was specifically targeted. Swift is scheduled to perform multiple shows at Wembley Stadium in the following days.
The activists’ statement highlighted their demand for a legally binding treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030, citing the urgency of government action against climate change.
