LONDON -- Activists protesting plans for a third runway at Heathrow blocked the tunnel leading to the airport's entrance on Thursday morning, preventing passengers from accessing some of the terminals.
The demonstration was carried out by Plane Stupid - a group opposed to the proposed expansion of the airport - to coincide with a debate taking place in parliament.
The group tweeted photos of their blockade, which began at 7:40 a.m. at the inbound entrance tunnel, which provides access to terminals 1, 2 and 3.
3 @PlaneStupid activists now blocking entrance tunnel to #Heathrow terminals 1,2&3. #3rdrunway = #climate crime pic.twitter.com/LkGFcbFP8P— Plane Stupid (@planestupid) November 26, 2015
Plane Stupid say that airport expansion would "wreck" the Climate Change Act and leave 75 million people displaced by 2035, according to spokesperson Cameron Kaye.
“There is already airport capacity for families taking their yearly holiday. New runways only benefit the 15% of flyers who take 70% of our flights, cooking our planet. These are rich frequent leisure flyers," he said.
Metropolitan police said in a statement that they were dealing with the protest and had made five arrests.
People stuck in the tunnel tweeted photos of the action and the traffic chaos.
At Heathrow now pic.twitter.com/bTPXOhyx6v— ian stopher (@ianmstopher) November 26, 2015
45 min in traffic on Heathrow spur and people now walkingt o airport!! pic.twitter.com/WnZTP2XRa7— Andy Burke (@andyjburke) November 26, 2015
Heathrow pic.twitter.com/oopM8IMP8x— Andy Burke (@andyjburke) November 26, 2015
#horrendous #UK #traffic = #missed #flight A photo posted by Tim Gale (@tg031181) on Nov 26, 2015 at 12:39am PST
Heathrow Airport warned passengers to leave extra time due to the protest.
Protest activity in the inbound tunnel is currently affecting traffic around the central terminal area and terminals 2 & 3 at Heathrow. 1/2— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) November 26, 2015
Police are now on site but please allow extra time getting to the airport today. 2/2— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) November 26, 2015
In July, Plane Stupid stormed a runway at Heathrow, shutting it and delaying a number of flights.
Britain's Airport Commission has unanimously recommended the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport after investigating the best way for the country to expand aviation capacity.
But expansion comes with a cost: Homes will be destroyed and surviving neighbourhoods will have to cope with increased noise, pollution and traffic. Some communities will be completely bulldozed.