As the plane remained on the tarmac, dozens of passengers were captured on camera struggling with the intense heat.
On Monday, the scorching temperatures of 95 degrees in Athens caused a delay for Qatar Airways Flight 204.
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The passengers onboard the vessel consisted of athletes who were making their way back home after participating in a Muay Thai competition held in the city of Athens.
According to a journalist from Matichon, who claimed to be aboard the Boeing 777, the air conditioning system experienced a malfunction.
According to the report, passengers started sweating and removing their clothes during the next three hours.
On Instagram, a sports therapist posted videos depicting the chaos onboard, where distressed passengers can be seen trying to alleviate the heat by fanning themselves.
In one of the videos, a man named Damian was featured and the author of the post described how passengers were suffering from extreme dehydration and fainting on the plane. The author noted that Damian, who is a fit and conditioned athlete, was struggling with the conditions on the plane, which highlights the danger and stress it posed for any regular individual.
The Sun managed to obtain additional images that depicted a man without a shirt, with droplets of sweat covering his body.
According to reports, passengers were allowed to disembark the plane after a three-hour wait. The flight eventually landed in Doha on Tuesday morning, which was 16 hours behind schedule, as indicated by data from Flightradar24.
Athens is currently experiencing a heat wave that has resulted in the closure of Acropolis for five hours, along with schools and garbage collection being shut down. The forecast predicts that temperatures may reach a scorching 102 degrees. This incident on Monday brings attention to the potential problems airlines and passengers may face due to the climate crisis, which is leading to more frequent heat waves.
In a statement shared with Business Insider, an airline spokesperson expressed sincere apologies to the passengers traveling on flight QR204 from Athens (ATH) to Doha (DOH) on Monday, June 10, 2024, for the delay caused due to a technical issue by Qatar Airways.
According to reports, Qatar staff assisted passengers while the issue was being addressed and asked them to disembark from the plane. Upon arrival in Doha, they ensured that all affected passengers received their full support to facilitate seamless onward travel to their intended destinations.
“Our top priority at all times is the safety and comfort of our passengers and crew. We have extended our apologies to each passenger who was affected by this unexpected disruption and the inconvenience caused,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the airline has duly informed its passengers about their entitlements for compensation in accordance with the relevant regulations.
