AN AER Lingus flight bound for Dublin from London City Airport suffered delays after an Extinction Rebellion activist staged a protest onboard.
Posing as a passenger, the smartly-dressed protector began his demonstration during the pre-flight safety announcement.
Standing up in front of his fellow passengers, the man proceeded to film himself giving a lecture on the subject of climate change.
Footage of the incident shows the man making his declaration while several other passengers urge him to sit down so the flight can take off.
The Extinction Rebellion activist can be heard refusing their request, saying “Sorry, I can’t do that”.
The incident continues for several more minutes while Aer Lingus lfight crew repeatedly ask him to stop and sit down.
He continues unabated though, even ignoring a request from another angry passenger demanding he disembark the flight.
The flight, which had originally be scheduled to take off by 9:40am eventually departed at 11:16am.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said: "Aer Lingus can confirm that a passenger scheduled to travel on EI283 flight from London City to Dublin airport was removed from the flight due to disruptive behaviour on board.
"The safety and security of our guests and crew is our number one priority and as a result, a full security check of the aircraft was completed prior to the flight departing.
"The flight departed at 11.16am and is scheduled to arrive in Dublin at 12.37pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
According to The Times, BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt was onboard the flight and tweeted several times during the incident.
"My flight from London City airport to Dublin has just been grounded by a climate change protester,” he tweeted.
"On runway and about to take off when smartly dressed man in late middle age stood up with iPhone to deliver lecture on climate change up and down aisle.
My flight from London City airport to Dublin has just been grounded by a climate change protestor. On runway and about to take off when smartly dressed man in late middle age stood up with iPhone to deliver lecture on climate change up and down aisle
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
Cabin crew calmy and very politely asked protestor to resume his seat. Politely but persistently he declined and proceeded to deliver his lecture on climate change in aisle. Some passengers annoyed, others listened to lecture with humour as cabin crew alerted pilot
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
Plane was at the end of runway. So the pilot taxied back to gate where plane was met by throng of police. They came on board and escorted the protestor off the plane. No skirmish and protestor left the plane
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
And the final irony of the climate protest on our flight. We cannot take off until we have taken on extra fuel...to replace the fuel used up during the protest, our pilot notes with humour
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
Pilot just asked us to show our appreciation to crew for ‘exemplary’ way they handled protest. Big round of applause
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019
According to Watt, the flight was further delayed after the plane was forced to take on extra fuel to replace the fuel used up during the protest. humour."
