Local News
Members of Extinction Rebellion Boston allegedly trespassed on the tarmac to protest the proposed expansion of private jet hangars at Hanscom Field, the region’s largest noncommercial airport.
Twenty people were arrested at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass. Saturday morning during a nonviolent demonstration to protest the proposed hangar expansion and private jet usage, the group said.
The Boston chapter of Extinction Rebellion (XR) — who have covered the Citgo sign, blocked traffic downtown, and occupied Gov. Maura Healey’s office — said they wanted to prevent flights from taking off at the region’s largest noncommercial airport.
Massachusetts State Police responded to the airport when protesters breached a security perimeter and trespassed on the tarmac Saturday morning, spokesperson Dave Procopio said. The 20 arrested are facing charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct and will appear in court this week, he said.
A spokesperson for Massachusetts Port Authority, who operates the airport, said the airport was temporarily closed Saturday as a precaution, The Boston Globe reported.
XR organizers said protesters entered the board area of fixed-base operators and blocked planes from taxiing to the runway. Some circled the wheels of private jets, and some stood in front of outgoing plane traffic before they were arrested, the organization said.
Organizers told Boston.com they’ve been planning the demonstration for about four months to protest the additional 17 new private jet hangars planned for Hanscom Field. They say Gov. Maura Healey should stop the expansion.
“We’re at the beginnings of a climate crisis and a very very narrowing window to prevent the worst of it,” organizer James Comiskey said in a statement to Boston.com. “We should be stopping all private jet use, but instead we are entertaining increasing private jet use.”
Hanscom Field, operated by Massport, was initially planned to get 27 new hangars to accommodate the growing number of private jets flying in and out of New England over the past 30 years, the Globe reported last year.
The Concord Bridge reported in February that the expansion was decreased to 17 new hangars.
Climate activists have heavily criticized private jet use in recent years. A report by the Institute for Policy Studies said at least half of the flights in and out of Hanscom were for recreational and luxury travel.
The report authors said 20 frequent flyers were responsible for 14,930 tons of carbon emissions over 18 months. The average Massachusetts resident is responsible for nearly eight tons a year.
Harley Takagi Kaner, a member of XR Boston since 2022, said the private jet businesses at Hanscom and across the world “are a public embarrassment.”
“This is an outrage and I would like to greatly inconvenience the very rich people who take these private jet flights, nearly half of which are to vacation destinations,” Takagi Kaner told Boston.com “These people are far too insulated for us ever to be able to approach them personally, so I want to send a message by physically blocking their unethical behavior with our bodies.”
More than 14,000 people have signed a petition to halt Hanscom’s expansion.
“Only the governor has any power over Massport,” the petition said.
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