Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Athens to Doha faced extreme heat discomfort after a “technical issue” grounded the plane for over three hours on June 10, 2024. The incident occurred during a heatwave in Greece, with temperatures soaring to 43 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat outside combined with a reported failure of the plane’s air-conditioning system led to severe conditions inside the aircraft. Passengers experienced sweltering temperatures, causing some to remove their shirts and others to faint. The Bangkok Post reported that the Qatar Airways passengers were unable to disembark for hours without any explanation, leading to nosebleeds and reliance on oxygen masks. Children were seen crying due to the heat.
Sports therapist Garth Collins shared footage of the chaotic scenes on Instagram, describing it as an “enforced sauna.” He criticized the handling of the situation, stating, “Passengers were left stranded on the plane for three-and-a-half hours with doors closed and no aircon. Passengers were literally dehydrating and passing out on the plane.”
Social Media and Passenger Reactions
Footage on social media showed the Qatar Airways passengers drenched in sweat, stripping off their clothes to cope with the heat. A confrontation nearly erupted between passengers and flight crew over the prolonged wait, as reported by Thai news site The Nation. Only after tensions escalated were passengers allowed to leave the plane.
Among the passengers were 49 members of Thailand’s national Muay Thai team and accompanying reporters, returning home via Doha after participating in the world championships in Patras, Greece. Thai boxer Thannachai Sidsongpeenong expressed his relief at surviving the ordeal, describing the experience as “melting in sauna-like heat” on board.
Airline Response and Apology
Qatar Airways later issued an apology for the delay, attributing it to a “technical issue.” A spokesperson for the airline stated, “Qatar Airways sincerely apologises for the delay to passengers traveling on flight QR204 from Athens (ATH) to Doha (DOH) on Monday June 10, 2024, which was due to a technical issue. We regard the safety and comfort of our passengers and crew as our highest priority at all times, and have offered our apologies to each passenger affected by this unforeseen disruption and the inconvenience caused. Additionally, passengers have been informed of their compensation entitlements in line with the applicable regulations.”
The airline’s website indicated that flight QR204’s departure was delayed by a day, arriving in Doha at 10:34 AM on June 11, 2024.
The heatwave in Greece has had widespread effects, with wildfires starting as early as March. The country’s fire risk warning was placed at a “very high” level, and schools and the ancient Acropolis tourist site were shut down due to the extreme heat. Greece, one of the most climate-impacted countries in Europe, has faced increasing challenges from rising temperatures, which have fueled deadly wildfires in recent years.
Source: CNA
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