The Royal Air Force’s air transport hub was breached by activists belonging to Palestine Action, who sprayed paint inside the engines of an A330 Voyager multi-role tanker transport aircraft.
As one of the UK’s most important airbases, notionally open 24/7 for emergency airlift taskings as well as the support of the UK’s air defence through TANSOR (Tanker Sortie), this major breach of security has drawn large amounts of attention. Thorough investigations will now take place to analyse failings in protection measures. The incident also highlights a concern raised in the recent Strategic Defence Review, noting that the UK’s entire air transport and refuelling force is consolidated on one base with one runway.
Palestine Action said they had targeted the aircraft because, they allege: “Flights depart daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. From Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza.” While intelligence flights by Shadow aircraft from RAF Akrotiri have been used to monitor events in Gaza – the UK Government says they have been used to search for remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas – Royal Air Force aircraft, despite many accusations on social media, are not capable of refuelling Israeli fighter aircraft due to incompatible refuelling systems.
Seen some pretty wacky takes this morning about how the RAF tankers were “legit targets” because they are being used to refuel Israeli jets.
Physically impossible, RAF tankers use drogue-probe refuel pods. Israel jets use boom from from tankers, two complete different methods pic.twitter.com/So8JtWTMbM
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) June 20, 2025
A statement of condemnation by Prime Minister Keir Starmer was echoed by Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, who added that he has ordered an investigation into the incident alongside a wider security review.
This action does nothing to support Gaza or our push for peace and stability in the Middle East. [2/2]
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) June 20, 2025
Images that surfaced on Jun. 20, 2025, following the breach, showed the starboard rear section of a Voyager KC3 covered in paint splatters, while the inside of the starboard engine was thoroughly covered in paint. The Voyager targeted in the video was among a lineup of at least three aircraft of the type, which included ZZ336 or ‘Vespina’ – specially configured for VIP transport though keeping the ability to refuel other aircraft. Palestine Action claims it targeted two of the aircraft, additionally using crowbars – but this has not been shown in their published media. ZZ336 is reportedly not one of the aircraft damaged.
Images have surfaced showing damage to an Airbus Voyager aircraft vandalized by Palestine Action activists who infiltrated RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest airbase.
Not sure which airframe this is. https://t.co/UrTg9ykfCt pic.twitter.com/57nW86TXOb
— Vanguard Intel Group 🛡 (@vanguardintel) June 20, 2025
According to BBC News, Royal Air Force sources have claimed the incident is unlikely to impact ongoing operations. Specifically for flights from RAF Akrotiri, these use forward deployed aircraft to the base itself and not those currently located at RAF Brize Norton. Despite the accusations of these flights indicating support for Israel, they have in fact been near daily occurrences for over ten years as part of Operation Shader. The Voyager aircraft fly from RAF Akrotiri to operating locations over Iraq and Syria to support Typhoon FGR4 fighters on reconnaissance and combat missions.
This is Operation Shader and has been going on for quite a number of years. https://t.co/q9SaN8sROR
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) June 19, 2025
As incredibly large spaces with many miles of fencelines, the security of airfields is a notably difficult task to achieve with 100% efficiency. However, consolidation of security infrastructure and personnel deployments specifically around aircraft and critical infrastructure can help to prevent damage by intruders even if they do manage to breach the airfield boundary.
The last known major ground intrusion into a UK airbase was in 2017, when a man was able to drive through a gate and gain access to the airfield, driving within feet of C-130 and KC-10 aircraft before being apprehended right next to a CV-22B Osprey. In this case, as a U.S. Air Force station, security is provided by U.S. forces.
In 2024, the civilian London Stansted Airport was breached by Just Stop Oil activists who sprayed paint over a number of private aircraft. Like the incident at RAF Brize Norton, many commentators were quick to note that it was only luck that the intruders were equipped with paint and not anything more nefarious.
Activists break into London’s Stansted Airport and target multiple private jets in their second anti-fossil fuels protest in fewer than 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/eaJBaRyb5F
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 20, 2024
Thames Valley Police, whose jurisdiction includes RAF Brize Norton, confirmed that they had received a report about the security breach and that efforts to locate and arrest those responsible were ongoing. Previous prosecutions regarding similar types of incidents have resulted in prison time, though the fact this incident targeted a military establishment is likely to increase the severity of the punishment.
Following the introduction of the National Security Act 2023, the maximum penalty for a person accessing, entering, inspecting, passing over or under, approaching or being in the vicinity of a prohibited place (or causing an unmanned vehicle or device to do these things) is 14 years in prison. Prohibited places are defined by the Official Secrets Act 1911 and includes defence establishments as well as civilian nuclear infrastructure.
