February theme: Aviation securityGreenpeace activists blatantly -- and easily -- breach Heathrow security

The British security authorities are investigating how, exactly, did Greenpeace activists manage to climb on top of a British Airways Boeing 777 at Heathrow. The demonstrators walked through a set of double doors at Terminal 1 and succeeded in making their way across the tarmac without being challenged or stopped. The Telegraph’s David Millward writes that the demonstrators did not cause disruption to other flights, but security experts are worried about the ability of the demonstrators to make their way through several layers of supposedly tight airport security and reach the plane. The Greenpeace activists’ stunt is but the latest in a series of protests by climate change campaigners, who last summer staged a camp at Heathrow. Their ability to get onto the tarmac and then climb onto a plane without police or security staff intervening raises serious question about the ability of Heathrow security personnel and systems to protect aircraft and passengers at the busy airport.

The protest is tied to a soon-to-be-made government decision about whether to press ahead with the third runway at the airport. Heathrow is running out of space, so observers believe the government will endorse the plans despite opposition from environmentalists, London mayor Ken Livingstone, and local authorities across the capital. The aviation industry disagrees and Flying Matters, representing a coalition of companies and trade unions condemned the protest. “This action is misjudged and misdirected: aviation is responsible for two per cent of global carbon emissions and is growing at a slower global rate than power generation and industry,” a spokesman said. “If they are serious about climate change they should engage in a proper debate about solutions that will make a real difference.”