Passengers Remove Clothes, Faint on Qatar Airways Plane as AC Stops Working in Greece

Traveling during a heatwave is never pleasant, but for passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR204, it turned into a nightmare. 

On Monday, dozens of passengers, including 49 Thai Muay Thai team members returning from the world championships, were left sweltering in the extreme heat of Athens. 

With temperatures outside soaring to 39°C (102°F), the situation onboard quickly became unbearable when the air conditioning system failed.

For three agonizing hours, passengers were trapped on the tarmac inside a plane that felt more like a sauna. 

With the flight doors closed and the air conditioning out of order, the temperature inside the cabin climbed rapidly. 

Passengers reported nosebleeds and some even had to use oxygen masks to cope with the stifling heat. 

Efforts to stay cool were futile as makeshift fans provided little relief.

As the temperature continued to rise, panic ensued. Sports therapist Garth Collins captured the chaos in a video shared on Instagram, showing passengers desperately fanning themselves and even removing their shirts in a bid to stay cool. 

The scene inside the cabin was chaotic, with passengers fainting and anxiety spreading among those on board. 

Collins described the provided cup of water and soft drink as "completely insufficient to rehydrate an individual after the enforced sauna on the plane."

Frustration boiled over as passengers protested and argued with the cabin crew, demanding to be let off the aircraft. 

After 3.5 hours, the captain finally relented, opening the exits and allowing passengers to deplane and wait on the tarmac. 

This decision came only after smoke was reportedly seen emitting from the rear of the aircraft, prompting airport officials to put fire trucks on standby.

Thananchai Sitsongpeenong, a Muay Thai athlete, expressed his relief at having survived the ordeal. 

"I consider myself lucky to have survived this," he told reporters. 

Australian passengers Jennie Zeiher and her husband Joe described the experience as "horrendous," questioning why they were allowed to board the plane in the first place given the technical issues. 

They praised the flight attendants for their efforts but criticized the lack of communication and clarity from the airline.

In response to the incident, Qatar Airways issued an apology, citing a technical issue as the cause of the delay. 

The airline stated that all passengers were eventually asked to disembark and were supported by staff at Athens International Airport. 

The flight later departed Athens after 12 hours, arriving in Doha on Tuesday morning. 

Qatar Airways assured that they regard the safety and comfort of their passengers and crew as their highest priority and apologized for the disruption and inconvenience caused.

After being deplaned, passengers faced an additional four-hour wait in the terminal as they tried to secure hotel accommodations. 

The ordeal finally ended when the flight took off at 6:27 AM on Tuesday, arriving in Doha at 10:34 AM. 

Despite the resolution, the passengers' harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of air travel during extreme weather conditions.

This incident highlights the importance of robust contingency plans and effective communication from airlines to ensure passenger safety and comfort, especially in challenging situations like a heatwave.