Jet-setting Taylor Swift downsizes private jet collection amidst legal threats and environment concerns
Taylor Swift, the renowned Grammy-winning artist, has once again captured headlines, this time for selling one of her private jets shortly after issuing legal threats against a university student. This student, Jack Sweeney, had been sharing publicly available information about the landings and takeoffs of private jets, including Swift's, on social media platforms.
Legal Threats and Jet Sale
Swift's legal team sent a cease and desist letter to Sweeney, warning of legal action if he didn't stop his activities, citing emotional and physical distress caused by his actions. Concurrently, Swift's private jet, purchased in 2011 for $40 million, has been sold to a car insurance company based in Missouri, Car Shield, for approximately $7 million as a second-hand sale.
Environmental Concerns
Critics have highlighted Swift's extensive use of private jets, emphasizing their significant contribution to environmental pollution. Private jets are reported to be 5 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial planes and 50 times more polluting than trains, according to a 2023 report by Transport and Environment. The increasing use of private jets, despite their environmental impact, is evident in a 64% rise in private flights in Europe in 2022, emitting over 5.3 million tonnes of CO2, as reported by Reuters.
Taylor Swift's Carbon Footprint
Swift's jet usage has drawn particular scrutiny, especially her short-distance flights that could be easily covered by
