How should we react to Extinction Rebellion Terrorists on Planes?

Given ridiculousness of the lawless events occuring mainly in UK and targeting means of transport, how to Frequent Flyers feel they should/would respond to an Eco-extremist trying to take control of an aircraft?

Ummm there's a big difference between an extinction rebellion protestor and a terrorist. Associating protestors with terrorists is poor form. I'm surprised the moderators allowed this post through.

People are allowed to protest, occasionally it causes a small disruption.

Labelling extreme protestors as terrorist does no good to either parties. Whilst climate change is a real issue, the way they are protesting about it certainly doesn't help their cause. Unfortunately, some feel that these protests are the only way to bring attention to the issues.

In any case, when encountering these people, I will respect their opinions but consider that what they're doing is illegal. From there, the appropriate authorities would be more apt in dealing with these types of situations.

The original poster's para-political 'poll' really doesn't belong in this forum

'Terrorist' is a ridiculous term to use for these people. A right of protest is reasonable - despite how annoying some of their antics may be. They are most certainly not terrorists however.

This doesn't really belong here imho.

Authorities in all countries are best placed to deal with these events. Not travellers. That guy who glued himself to a BA plane at London City airport for example was taken care of by the police there. These things are like a match, burn brightly and then flame out. Aviation is looking at ways of reducing its carbon footprint but its not possible or feasible for a massive reduction in flying. We live in a place that is distant and aviation is our connection to the rest of the world.

I'm with dm12 - this is not a topic for Executive Traveller. It's borderline trolling.

Mirroring the comments of Mark and the other posters. Surprised that the moderator has not stepped in.

The whole point of protests is to cause inconvenience whether it be a boycott or a sit in, or a march. Terrorism is about taking lives for a political cause. Quite different and not to be conflated or confused.

I can see this is posted in the BA area, no doubt in response to the idiot who decided to glue himself to the top of an aircraft, putting in danger those he had to rescue.

The same mob has also published plans to deliberately fly drones near or over airports to disrupt air traffic, including in Australia: a direct threat to hundreds, if not thousands of lives, by deliberately attempting to interfere with air safety.

When you march peacefully at an organised event, you're a protester, not a terrorist, no doubt about that. But when your actions are directly and deliberately putting the lives of others in danger, you're a terrorist and should be charged accordingly.

Let's be honest: if an aircraft engine ingests a large drone, the engine/aircraft catches on fire and causes the plane to crash, I'm sure the relatives of those lost would be demanding the person whose deliberate acts caused such a crash be held criminally responsible as a mass murder. Similarly, if an aircraft were trying to make an emergency landing for a medical reason but couldn't, because some muppet was flying a drone, and the plane had to keep circling or divert and the passenger died while waiting to land, guess who should also be held responsible: similarly if a plane ran out of fuel while waiting to land if it couldn't divert when multiple airports were disrupted.

Honestly, this is why we have laws. Not every stupid action results in people dying, but aviation laws exist for a reason, and those stupid enough to break them, particularly with deliberate intent knowing full well what the consequences could be, aren't merely "protesters".

Deanr, I agree. These extremists are intent on terror. If someone suddently stood up and began reading a sermon on an aircraft I was aboard, I'd be terrified. I think lots of others would be terrified too, specially if they couldn't quite see what was going on.

Terrorist really?

Frankly, I'm with the "eco-terrorists". Climate change is valid and pressing threat, and short-sighted trolling like that exhibited by the OP needs to be treated with the contempt it deserves.