An Aer Lingus flight from London City Airport to Dublin was grounded by a climate change protester earlier today.

A number of passengers reported that a man stood up holding a mobile phone as the plane was about to take off and began talking about climate change issues.

Cabin crew asked the man to return to his seat but he refused.

As a result, the pilot taxied back to the gate where police officers came on board and took the man off the plane.

Just about to take from London city airport. Our flight was infiltrated by a climate change protestor. #londoncityairport #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/eWBeeUiGHM — Warren Swalbe (@wazzas) October 10, 2019

My flight from London City airport to Dublin has just been grounded by a climate change protestor. On runway and about to take off when smartly dressed man in late middle age stood up with iPhone to deliver lecture on climate change up and down aisle — Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 10, 2019

Aer Lingus confirmed that a passenger scheduled to travel on EI283 flight from London City to Dublin Airport was removed from the flight "due to disruptive behaviour on board".

The flight was due to take off at 9.40am.

In a statement, the airline said: "The safety and security of our guests and crew is our number one priority and as a result, a full security check of the aircraft was completed prior to the flight departing.

"The flight departed at 11.16am" it was scheduled to arrive in Dublin at 12.37pm.

The airline apologised for any inconvenience caused.