Two Royal Air Force (RAF) military aircraft were damaged on Wednesday (18) after an action claimed by the group Palestine Action.
The breach occurred at Brize Norton airbase, the largest RAF facility in the United Kingdom, and was reportedly intended as a protest against alleged British support for Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.
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According to the activist group, two members of the organization used electric scooters to enter the base and approach two Voyager model aircraft. Using repurposed fire extinguishers, the activists sprayed red paint over the aircraft engines — which they claimed symbolized Palestinian blood — and used crowbars to cause additional structural damage. Red paint was also spread across the runway.
The activists managed to leave the base without being immediately apprehended, raising concerns about serious security failures at a highly sensitive military installation.
Brize Norton is a strategic hub for air transport and aerial refueling for the British armed forces. The base serves as a logistical link for RAF operations in the Middle East, with regular flights to the British airbase in Akrotiri, Cyprus, which has been used for surveillance and support missions in Gaza, Syria, and Yemen.
In a statement released after the attack, Palestine Action declared: “By disabling two military aircraft, the group directly intervened in genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.”
Despite the group’s claims that Voyager aircraft were involved in missions supporting Israel, officials from the Ministry of Defence refuted the allegations, clarifying that the aircraft are primarily used in the context of Operation Shader — the UK’s mission against the terrorist group Daesh (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. “Israel does not use RAF aerial refueling. These accusations reflect a profound misunderstanding of how the British Air Force operates,” said an RAF source under condition of anonymity.
The action drew immediate criticism, including warnings about the risks of damaging large aircraft involved in critical missions. Online users and defense experts pointed to serious national security lapses.
The Ministry of Defence issued an official statement condemning the breach: “We strongly condemn this act of vandalism against Royal Air Force assets. We are cooperating with the police in the investigation. Our Armed Forces are a source of national pride. They risk their lives for all of us and deserve our deepest respect and support.”
+ Video: RAF Voyager refuels British Typhoon and French Mirage 2000 during joint exercise
The opposition Armed Forces Minister, Mark François, also commented: “After the recent tragic loss of Air India flight 787, any attempt to tamper with large engines — especially aircraft used for troop transport or aerial refueling — is completely reprehensible. The Ministry of Defence must urgently explain how such individuals gained access to a supposedly secure RAF base.”
Source and images: UK Defence Journal | X @UKDefJournal | X @RoyalAirForce. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
