‘Trying to ban it’: Backlash over Taylor Swift’s latest 13-minute flight

Taylor Swift’s private jet just made a brief flight from one side of a city to another - but the star is hitting back as the details are leaked.

Taylor Swift has copped some backlash online after details of her private jet usage were revealed on social media.

The singer came under fire when an account run by a college student showed it took just 13 minutes for her private jet to fly from one side of the city of St Louis to the other, a 30-minute drive by car.

Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, uses data available to the public to track the flight information of the rich and famous and shares them on social media.

He has tracked the likes of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg – and now Swift. However, the flight details Sweeney posts do not provide information on who is on-board the aircraft.

Taylor Swift is quite the jetsetter. Picture: Getty

“Flew from Cahokia/St Louis, Illinois, US to St Louis, Missouri, US 24 hours ago. Apx. flt. time 13 Mins,” read the college student’s latest post regarding Swift’s movements.

The singer’s lawyers have since threatened legal action against Sweeney for tracking her jet, labelling his actions “stalking and harassing behaviour”, as per the Washington Post.

The lawyers claim Sweeney’s data is providing stalkers and criminals “a road map to carry out their plans” as the information poses “an imminent threat to the safety and wellbeing”.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Sweeney said he has no ill intentions by releasing the data – he believes the public have a right to know.

“I think it’s important to note that nowhere do I intend for harm. I actually think Swift has some good songs,” he said. “I believe in transparency and public information.”

The internet have since weighed in on the flight information drama, with some arguing that Swift’s legal team are trying to silence Sweeney because of the high carbon emissions the singer’s private jets have produced.

no wonder her team is trying to ban this flight tracking LMFAOOO https://t.co/DqD3jlPks7

— Bob (@emptytesticles) February 7, 2024

13 minutes for a flight is hilarious. This country is doomed

— Literal Burner (@burner_literal) February 7, 2024

We're a playground for the rich and entitled.

— Globodine (@Globodine1) February 7, 2024

I thought the same but it’s likely over an hour drive (unsure on exact) and she likely doesn’t care about the environment just like non vegans don’t care about animals, if that makes sense

— Bob (@BobRosssDad2) February 7, 2024

However, other users on Twitter have come to Swift’s defence, claiming that the jet Sweeney was tracking was not even Swift’s anymore as she recently sold it.

Others suggested it was likely the 13-minute flight was just to move the plane for maintenance.

At least double check the source first https://t.co/5JOZUFWeGK

— V 🤍 | VI A TAYLOR 🇵🇪🥹♥️ (@hrrysblues) February 7, 2024

She sold this jet btw…it’s not even her anymore and he’s fooling you with this tracking

— B 🫶🏻🏹 (@Badia8713) February 7, 2024

How else do they test flights and move planes between maintenance hangars?

Do you think they just push them through the streets?

This was the day she sold the plane it was obviously not her on it as she was in LA

— Ann (@ann_ashb) February 7, 2024

it’s not even her .shes in japan and she sold it

— reputaylor⸆⸉ (@justherefo19249) February 7, 2024

You are possibly the dumbest person on this platform. It was a test flight by a pilot who was involved in the purchase of this jet. Taylor did not take this 13 minute flight. The stupidity of our citizens is the true threat to our country. The rush to yell “Gotch ya” is pathetic

— Creighton Lacrosse (@attorneyatlax) February 7, 2024

This isn’t the first time Sweeney has been on a celebrity’s radar for the wrong reasons.

In 2022, X (formerly Twitter) banned the student after Elon Musk accused him of sharing his “assassination coordinates”.

“They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service,” Musk tweeted at the time.

Meanwhile, Swift will soon visit Australia as part of her Eras world tour, with her first show scheduled for Melbourne next Friday night.