Sweltering passengers had to strip off their clothes after saying they were stuck on a plane for over three hours.
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.
The plane was stuck on the tarmac in the searing heat of Athens, Greece, yesterday (10 Jun), as reported by Need To Know.
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The air conditioning system reportedly encountered a technical fault on the plane, which was bound for the Qatari capital of Doha.
Footage shows travellers peeling off their clothes while covered in beads of sweat.
The passengers 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 claimed: “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.
“There is one person available at the Qatar check in desk helping one person at a time.”
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.”
He also shared a clip of Muay Thai fighter Damian Collins showing the sweat dripping from his body.
Garth said: “Damian is a fit, conditioned athlete, 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: “I was in shock.
“But now I feel that I was lucky to get through the situation.”
Local reports said the delayed flight arrived in Doha at around 10.30am today (11 June) after being scheduled to land at 6.20pm yesterday.
Qatar Airways has been approached for comment.
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