LONDON — In the early hours of June 18, two activists from pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action carried out a dramatic breach of RAF Brize Norton, the U.K.’s largest Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire, spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Voyager air-to-air refuelling jets and prying at them with crowbars, before escaping undetected on electric scooters, reported by Daily Hurriyet News.
A video released on X by Palestine Action shows the pair entering the base at night, leaving red-streaked engines and runway patches, alongside a planted Palestinian flag.
The group asserted the act symbolized the “bloodshed” of Palestinians and claimed that RAF Voyagers are complicit in military operations over Gaza and the wider Middle East.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer swiftly condemned the “disgraceful” vandalism, adding that, although operations have not been affected, a full security review of RAF Brize Norton and the broader defence estate is now under way.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and confirmed that probes are ongoing in partnership with Thames Valley and Ministry of Defence police.
The incident has raised serious concerns over the RAF’s internal security. RAF Brize Norton is home to more than 6,000 personnel and serves as the central hub for troop transport and mid-air refuelling missions, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
A defence source was quoted emphasizing that the targeted Voyagers have not been used to refuel Israeli jets, yet experts argue this breach mirrors vulnerabilities seen in recent drone attacks on other Western military airfields. The core question now is clear: how could two activists penetrate what should be one of Britain’s most fortified air bases?
