BOILING passengers were forced to strip down after being trapped in a “sauna” plane for three hours during a Greek heatwave.
Sweltering flyers expecting to travel from Athens to Doha, Qatar, on Monday ended up “passing out” as the aircraft lay stranded on the tarmac in 38C heat.
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The passengers, including dozens of athletes taking part in the IFMA World Muaythai Championships, claim they were left on the Qatar Airways flight with no air conditioning.
It’s reported that the planes air conditioning system encountered a technical fault as it prepared to depart for the Middle East.
An Emergency Weather Bulletin had already been issued that day following fears of excessive heat in Greece.
It was claimed that very warm air masses would cause very high temperatures in the country until Friday, EMY report.
Footage of struggling passengers on the plane soon emerged and many were seen peeling off their clothes while covered in beads of sweat.
The travellers were eventually allowed to disembark the aircraft to return to the terminal building at Athens International Airport to await further instruction.
South African sports therapist Garth Collins shared several videos of the incident on social media.
He wrote: “Qatar Airways is handling the situation with flight QR204 from Athens to Doha terribly.
“Passengers were left stranded on the plane for 3.5 hours with doors closed and no air con.
“Passengers were literally dehydrating and passing out on the plane.
“They were finally allowed off of the plane and are now sitting in a queue with no communication from the company as to what the situation is.”
“Passengers have connecting flights out of Doha that will not be made.”
Collins claimed that some passengers were set to miss their connecting flights out of Doha and that only one person was available to help at the check-in desk.
He added: “Passengers were eventually given a cup of water and small soft drink, completely insufficient to rehydrate an individual after the enforced sauna on the plane.”
Collins also shared a clip of Muay Thai fighter Damian Collins showing the sweat dripping from his body.
“Damian is a fit, conditioned athlete,” he said. “Imagine the stress and danger for any normal individual.”
The boxer, who also comes from South Africa, was visiting Greece for the IFMA World Championship.
According to reports, 49 members of the Thai Muaythai team and a handful of Thai reporters were also onboard the flight.
Boxer Thannachai Sidsongpeenong said he was left “in shock” following the ordeal and felt “lucky to get through the situation”.
Local reports said the delayed flight arrived in Doha at around 10.30am today (June 11) – 16 hours after it was originally scheduled to land yesterday.
Qatar Airways has been approached for comment.
The airline has only recently dealt with a flight that left 12 passengers injured after experiencing intense turbulence.
The jet was on its way from Doha to Dublin on May 26 when it began shaking as it flew over Turkey.
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