Latest news with #RoyalAirForce
International Business Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Fact Check: Did the Royal Air Force Paint a Jet in Pink for Pride Month?
A satirical post claiming a Royal Air Force jet was painted in pink for Pride Month has gone viral, prompting serious discussions online despite its comedic intent. Shared on June 1 via X (formerly Twitter), the post sparked outrage, sarcasm, and confusion, amassing over 1.1 million views and hundreds of comments. The post read, "Photo of the Day: This F22 from 7175Sqn has been painted pink to celebrate the start of Pride Month," alongside an image of a bright pink jet. It further claimed the aircraft would be repainted every four days to match each rainbow color for £80,085 per paint. The image and text soon appeared on Facebook as well, where users debated the purpose and cost of such a move. Some questioned military priorities while others saw it as political pandering. "Starmer prepares for war, meanwhile, what's the real preparation going on in real time here in the U.K," read one Facebook post sharing the claim and photo. Under the original X post, one user commented, "Putin will be quaking in his boots, pathetic." The main point of discussion quickly shifted toward the perceived use of government funds and the symbolism of the gesture. While some supported the idea as a form of inclusive celebration, others viewed it as unnecessary or even fictional. Yet, the tone of the post and the exaggerated cost failed to alert many viewers that it was, in fact, satire. Fact Check A spokesperson from the Royal Air Force confirmed there were no plans to paint any aircraft for Pride Month and clarified that the "7175 squadron" mentioned in the post does not exist. Additionally, the base "RAF Luton" is fictitious. In reality, the account "RAF_Luton" on X is known for its satirical military-themed posts. Its bio clearly states it is the "assumed official Twitter account of the world's most mysterious & secret (and fictitious) military base." Despite this, many users seemed unaware of its parody nature. The pink plane image contains a watermark for site used by flight simulation hobbyists to design virtual aircraft. Reuters could not confirm if the photo was created on the platform, and the site didn't respond to a comment. Hence, it's clear that the RAF has no plans to paint jets for Pride Month. The viral claim originated from a parody account known for fictional content.
International Business Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Pro-Palestinian Activists Go Berserk, Vandalize RAF Aircraft in England
Pro-Palestinian activists in the UK broke into a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday, vandalizing two military aircraft used for transport and refueling operations. The incident took place at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The group, Palestine Action, claimed responsibility, saying two activists infiltrated the high-security base and sprayed red paint into the engines of the RAF Voyager aircraft. They also reportedly used crowbars to inflict structural damage. A video of the incident was posted by the group on X, formerly Twitter. It showed the activists moving around the base and targeting the aircraft with red paint. "Though Britain criticizes the Israeli government, it still helps fly spy planes over Gaza, sends military cargo, and refuels U.S./Israeli jets," the group said in a statement. "Britain isn't merely complicit—it's actively involved in Gaza genocide and Middle East war crimes." The UK's Ministry of Defence strongly condemned what it described as an act of "vandalism" and confirmed it is collaborating with police in the investigation. "Our Armed Forces represent the best of our nation. They risk their lives for our safety. Their courage, commitment, and selfless service are an example to everyone," the ministry said. "We must stand by those who protect us." Local police said they received reports of unauthorized access and criminal damage at the base. An investigation is underway. (With inputs from agencies)
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This new on Netflix action thriller soars to No. 1 spot — and it lives up to its 94% Rotten Tomatoes audience score
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Netflix's top 10 list is constantly changing as new movies are added to the streaming service each week. Now, Gerard Butler has another smash hit thriller that's jettisoned to the No. 1 spot just a few short days after landing on the platform on June 12. "Plane" follows a commercial airline pilot (Butler) who's stuck in a desperate situation when a mid-air lightning strike forces him to land on a war-torn island. After local rebels start picking off passengers, he must team up with a fugitive who was being transported on board ("Luke Cage's" Mike Colter) to save the rest of the survivors from the same gruesome fate. Its buddy action movie premise isn't anything original; the genre loves pitting two polar opposites together in a high-stakes scenario to make it out on top against all odds. In fact, we saw something similar in "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera," another Butler-led thriller that topped the Netflix charts earlier this year. But while "Plane" doesn't break any new ground, it still manages to carve out its own space and stand apart in a crowded streaming landscape. It feels like a throwback to the sharp, no-frills action movies of the 2000s, and Butler shines as an aging action hero past his prime. All told, "Plane" delivers exactly what it sets out to: a tense, gripping experience that's as thrilling as it is entertaining. So, if you've seen 'Plane' pop up on your homepage, here's everything you need to know before adding it to your Netflix watchlist. "Plane" stars Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance, a former Royal Air Force pilot now flying commercial planes. The movie opens with him looking forward to some quality time with his daughter once he completes one last flight from Hawaii to Japan. Among the passengers is accused murderer Louis Gaspare (Colter), a former French Foreign Legionnaire who is being extradited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. What should have been a routine flight turns into every pilot's worst nightmare when a lightning strike takes out the plane's avionics. Though Brodie manages to land the plane safely, he realizes too late that they're stranded on the dangerous, pirate-run Jolo Islands. To protect the survivors, he's forced to rely on his military training and team up with Louis to carve a bloody path through the island until an escape route can be secured. For years now, Gerard Butler has been a force to be reckoned with in the mid-budget action scene, delivering one entertaining film after another and winning over audiences on both the big and small screens. So it's no surprise to see yet another Butler-led thriller dominating the Netflix charts again. Like I said before, "Plane" follows a well-worn formula, but it's still a thoroughly entertaining watch. What really puts "Plane" a cut above the rest for me is its character authenticity, something many modern action films fumble. Butler may be the lead, and he gets his fair share of fight scenes, but the movie makes it clear that this is no unstoppable action hero we're dealing with. He's a soldier who's seen better days, and "Plane" embraces that. Especially by pitting him alongside Colter's Louis, a fighter still in peak condition and clearly the more lethal of the two. Instead of shoehorning Butler into every heroic moment, "Plane" lets him perform within the limits of who his character is, and it adds to the chemistry between him and Colter. This grounded realism also plays out in the fight scenes, which are intense and well-executed, though they don't quite reach the same heights as the "John Wick" or "Mad Max" movies. Director Jean-François Richet brought in real-life Navy SEALs as stunt performers and consultants to make sure the combat and tactics feel as realistic as possible — and it pays off in a big way. Each hit lands with enough weight to make you wince. I'm not the only one who enjoyed watching "Plane." The movie earned a solid 79% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences were especially hyped about it given its 94% Popcornmeter score. The audience consensus reads: "Check your critical thinking at the gate: The plot's preposterous and loaded with entertaining action, making 'Plane' plenty of good old-fashioned fun." I think that summarizes "Plane" perfectly. It's not the best action movie out there, but it doesn't need to be. It's lean, focused, and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a fast-paced extraction thriller. So, whether you're a devoted Gerard Butler fan or just looking for a high-octane watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat, "Plane" is worth adding to your watchlist. Stream "Plane" on Netflix now. Netflix top 10 movies — here's the 3 worth watching right now This is the one Netflix movie I'm watching on Father's Day — and it's a gripping apocalyptic thriller with heart Netflix's new mystery thriller movie looks like a mind-twisting ride that'll keep you guessing — watch the first trailer now
Ya Libnan
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes at UK military base
Pro-Palestinian activists in Britain said they had broken into a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday and damaged two military aircraft. The campaign group Palestine Action said that its activists had entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and escaped undetected. 'Flights depart daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus,' the group said on X accompanied by video footage. 'From Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza.' BREAKING: Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts. 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.
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First Post
8 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
How pro-Palestine activists broke into UK's largest airbase
Palestine Action, a UK-based Palestine advocacy group, entered the Royal Air Force's Brize Norton airbase and defaced two military aircraft with spray paint. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the act as 'disgraceful' and 'vandalism'. But how did they manage to breach the base's defences? read more Palestine Action, a UK-based Palestine advocacy group, put up a video of the incident on social media. Image courtesy: X Pro-Palestinian activists have broken into the UK's largest airbase. Palestine Action, a UK-based Palestine advocacy group, entered the Royal Air Force's Brize Norton airbase and defaced two military aircraft with spray paint. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the act 'disgraceful' and 'vandalism'. But what happened? Why is this a big deal? What do we know about the group? Let's take a closer look What happened? First, let's take a brief look at the group. Palestine Action's website describes it as 'direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It says its main target is Elbit Systems – which is the biggest weapons manufacturer for Israel. Palestine Action says its strategy is to take 'sustained and focused direct action against key targets' to topple Israel's military-industrial complex. Now let's take a look at what happened on Friday night. Palestine Action said two of its members broke into the RAF's Brize Norton airbase in central England's Oxfordshire. The group's members spray painted two military aircraft with red paint – symbolising blood – including into its turbines. The group also spray painted the red paint on the runway and put up a Palestinian flag. The group put up a video of its actions on X. BREAKING: Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts. 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. — Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 20, 2025 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel ../Israeli fighter jets,' the group said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East,' Palestine Action said in a statement. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people,' it added. Why does this matter? Because this is a huge embarrassment for the British government. Brize Norton, with over 6000 employees, is the UK's largest airbase. It is also the place the British refuelling fleet calls home. One of the craft on the base is used to fly the King and Prime Minister on official engagements. However, defence sources told The Telegraph that Palestine Action were mistaken and that the UK does not help refuel planes that participate in Israeli military operations. This was backed up by a source that told CNN that RAF Voyagers do not carry any weapons for Israeli forces or help refuel their aircraft. A spokesperson for Starmer said the government was reviewing security across all British defence sites. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the act 'disgraceful' and 'vandalism'. Reuters Britain's defence ministry and police were investigating. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us,' the defence ministry said. It slammed the 'vandalism of Royal Air Force assets'. Lord West, Labour minister for UK security, called the development extremely worrying". 'We can't allow thing like this to happen at all,' West, former head of the Royal Navy told BBC. He added that such developments were 'really a problem' for national security. With inputs from agencies
