Millions in damage from paint attack - How far can climate activists go?

Activists spray-paint private jet - and end up in prison

In June 2023, an incident on the island of Sylt shocked the public: activists from the "Last Generation" sprayed a private jet there with orange paint. However, the action went far beyond symbolic protests - resulting in damage of more than one million euros. Now, after the verdict in which two of the perpetrators were sentenced to prison, the owner of the damaged plane has also spoken out and explained what he thinks of the penalties.

The protest and the consequences: More than just paint on a jet

It was a targeted attack: activists from the "Last Generation" wanted to make a statement against climate change with their action. Their message: "Your luxury = our drought". To do this, they cut a hole in the fence of the airport on Sylt, sprayed the plane with orange paint and then stuck themselves to it. The Cessna, a small jet, was badly damaged - the engines were contaminated with paint and the damage ran into the millions. The airport fence was also destroyed, causing additional costs.

But the damage was not just financial. The owner of the jet, a real estate businessman from Grevenbroich, had to watch as his plane was out of action for almost a year. "It was frustrating. But most of the repairs were covered by the insurance," he explains.

The verdict - prison sentences for activists

The two women responsible for the attack have now been sentenced to prison. The 24-year-old activist must serve seven months in prison, her 22-year-old colleague six months. "The damage to the plane was condoned", explained the judge at the district court. However, the sentences were not suspended, which underlines the seriousness of the offense. Others involved, including two men, received fines, but not every activist was convicted.

The process itself was not an easy one: those involved had taped themselves up and rolled out banners, which made police work more difficult. The protest was not only directed against the jet owner, but against the "rich profiteers of climate change" in general. But how far can such a form of protest go?

The owner's view - More than just an airplane

For the owner of the jet, however, the matter is not yet closed. He openly admits that he had expected a harsher punishment: "I would have expected more. But I'm no longer upset," he explains matter-of-factly. Despite the repairs and the insurance, he still has to pay for part of the damage. And yet he remains calm. But the question remains: Was the activists' protest justified?

This action was not only a slap in the face to the business people concerned, but also a blow to the rule of law. Yes, climate activism is important, and yes, climate change urgently needs to be combated. But this fight must not be waged by illegal means? It is not justified to damage or endanger people's livelihoods and property for a good cause? At this point, one should also ask oneself what causes more damage: a destroyed jet or the long-term, systematic damage that such protest actions may cause to the credibility of the climate movement.