Climate Activists Disrupt Flights at Germany's Busiest Airport

Germany's Frankfurt Airport, the busiest in the country, experienced significant disruptions on Thursday as climate activists glued themselves to the tarmac in a protest against fossil fuel usage. The airport, which served nearly 60 million passengers last year, advised travelers to avoid the facility as multiple flights were diverted or canceled due to the demonstrations occurring on at least one taxiway. Following a police operation, the airport announced that flights were "gradually resuming" after the temporary suspension of air traffic. The protest involved six members of the activist group Oil Kills, who claimed responsibility for the disruption. They stated on social media platform X, "The sun hasn’t risen yet, but air traffic in Germany has already been brought to a standstill." Another group, Letzte Generation, shared videos and images of their members participating in the protest, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change and the unsustainability of fossil fuels. This incident follows a similar protest at Cologne-Bonn airport on Wednesday, where three activists were detained after gluing their hands to the tarmac. The activist group Oil Kills reported additional protests across Europe, including detentions at Oslo and Barcelona airports, as well as disruptions at Helsinki airport, highlighting a growing trend of climate activism targeting transportation hubs. As the situation develops, authorities and activists continue to engage in dialogue regarding the pressing issue of climate change and the need for immediate action.