Pro-Palestinian protesters have broken into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes.

Palestine Action said two of its activists had broken into the RAF base, in Oxfordshire, and sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft.

Video footage posted by the group on Friday morning showed two people using electric scooters to cross the base’s runway.

The group said its activists had used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray paint into the turbine engines of the planes, and used crowbars to cause further damage. They are also said to have sprayed red paint across the runway and left a Palestinian flag behind before escaping the base undetected.

Voyagers are air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft. Described as a “petrol station in the sky”, they can carry up to 109 tonnes of fuel and are used to refuel fighter and compatible heavy aircraft.

A core fleet of nine are kept at RAF Brize Norton, with five others available for commercial use but ready for military recall. One of the planes, painted with a Union flag, has previously been used to transport prime ministers and members of the Royal family to official engagements abroad.