The incident occurred on the morning of 11/4 when a suspect, reportedly over 40 years old, climbed onto the wing of a US transport aircraft. The plane was parked in a restricted area at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland. The individual then repeatedly struck the fuselage and wing of the aircraft with an axe.
Shannon Airport was locked down for nearly 30 minutes following the incident. Police quickly responded to the scene, apprehending the man near the aircraft. His identity and motive have not been disclosed, and he is currently being held for investigation on charges of property damage.
It remains unclear how the suspect managed to climb onto the aircraft's wing or the full extent of the damage. However, local news outlet The Journal cited sources familiar with the situation, stating that the aircraft sustained "very serious damage."
Images from the scene identified the attacked aircraft as a C-130H2.5 transport plane, tail number 91-1653. This aircraft is part of the US Air National Guard and had landed at Shannon Airport on 9/4.
The United States has not publicly released specific pricing for the C-130H series. However, used C-130H aircraft sold to allies typically average nearly 16 million USD. Upgrading these planes to the H2.5 standard for the US Air Force costs an additional 7 million USD per aircraft.
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A US C-130H transport aircraft parked at Shannon Airport after the incident on 11/4. Photo: Press 22 |
US military aircraft frequently land at Shannon Airport for refueling and crew rest before continuing their journeys to the Middle East. This practice has sparked numerous protests, with local residents criticizing the stopovers as a violation of Ireland's neutrality.
This incident is not isolated. In 11/2025, three individuals were arrested at Shannon Airport after their vehicle entered a restricted area. Approximately two weeks later, three women were also taken into custody on charges of airport intrusion and causing property damage to an aircraft.
Ngoc Anh (Guardian, AA, NY Post)
