Activists fined for Plane Stupid stunt at Aberdeen airport

The nine climate activists have each been ordered to pay between £300 and £700.

Travel Insurance News - 26/08/2010

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Nine climate activists, known collectively as ‘TheClimate9’, have been ordered by the courts to pay fines that range between £300 and £700. The nine were arrested at Aberdeen airport after occupying airport tarmac. Having broken through security fencing, the activists chained themselves to a cage inside the airport grounds. They were all convicted of breaching the peace.

The climate activists, members of a group called Plane Stupid, had targeted Aberdeen airport because of its strong links to North Sea oil. Some of the activists wore costumes mimicking real estate tycoon Donald Trump. They were arrested in March last year. They had chained themselves to a cage on the airport tarmac and climbed up to a terminal roof.

Donald Trump is building an upmarket £750-million golf resort on dunes to the north of the city that are environmentally protected. Aberdeen sheriff court heard how the protesters’ actions resulted in losses for BAA and airlines put at a minimum of £133,000. Some 500 passengers suffered cancellations and delays as a result of the protest. Defence lawyers disputed a claim by the prosecutor that losses could have totalled as much as £500,000.

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