Two pro-Palestinian activists from the group Palestine Action claim they infiltrated Royal Air Force Brize Norton, the United Kingdom’s largest airbase, damaging two military aircraft used for air-to-air refueling.
The breach, which occurred under cover of darkness, was widely reported by British media as a “massive security failure.”
Video released Friday by Palestine Action shows the two individuals moving freely within the Oxfordshire base. One activist is seen riding a scooter up to a parked Airbus Voyager tanker and appearing to spray red paint directly into one of the aircraft’s engines using a repurposed fire extinguisher.
According to a statement by the group, the activists “evaded security” and placed the aircraft “out of service.” They also claimed to have used crowbars to inflict additional damage, though this was not shown in the footage. The activists reportedly left the site without being apprehended.
RAF Brize Norton serves as a strategic transport and aerial refueling hub for the British military. It supports operations in the Middle East, including surveillance flights over Gaza launched from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The Airbus Voyager tankers are central to those missions, enabling extended-range flight for U.S. and allied aircraft operating in the region.
Here’s the footage from the recent incident at RAF Brize Norton in which two Voyager aircraft were damaged by spray paint and crowbars by Palestine Action members. These aircraft, despite claims made by the group, aren’t involved in Israeli operations. pic.twitter.com/7OnnedZBoV
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) June 20, 2025
In its statement, Palestine Action said: “Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets.”
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident and emphasized support for military personnel. “Our armed forces represent the very best of Britain,” a spokeswoman said. “They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all.”
Cabinet Minister Lisa Nandy, speaking to the BBC before the full details emerged, described the break-in as “deeply concerning.” She added that the government would be “cracking down” on individuals who “think they can treat national security with that level of disregard.”
Opposition voices also raised concern. Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Labour minister for UK security, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program, “We can’t allow things like this to happen at all,” calling the breach “extremely worrying” and a “real problem” for national security.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said any interference with aircraft engines was “totally reprehensible,” adding: “There are serious questions for the MoD to answer about how protesters were able to gain access to what is supposed to be a secure RAF airbase.”
Palestine Action has engaged in similar activities across Europe, targeting sites linked to arms production and military logistics. In May, the group claimed responsibility for spraying paint on a U.S. military aircraft in Ireland.
The Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the current operational status of the affected Voyager aircraft or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the incident. However, the ease with which the activists moved within the base has prompted renewed scrutiny over security protocols at high-value military installations across the UK.