Passengers aboard a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Bulgaria revolted on Saturday after being confined for over two hours in a plane cabin that reached 37.7 degrees Celsius (99.86 degrees Fahrenheit) without operational air conditioning. The incident occurred as the plane sat on the runway, leading to increasingly uncomfortable conditions for those on board.
Video footage from the event shows passengers fanning themselves with safety cards in an attempt to cope with the rising temperature. One passenger, who identified herself as a doctor working in emergency services, described the situation as a "hazard for life." She reported that people were "scrambling" and becoming "dehydrated" amid the extreme heat, with children also on board.
The aircraft doors were closed, and the air conditioning system was not functioning, according to reports. Disgruntled passengers were observed standing and demanding that the aircraft door be opened. A flight attendant can be heard in the footage explaining that the crew was "just waiting for the engine to start."
There was a lack of communication from the pilot or crew to the passengers regarding the delay and the escalating temperature, a passenger stated. The extreme heat can pose significant health risks. A cabin temperature of 37.7C is close to normal human core body temperature, making it difficult for the body to regulate its own temperature and increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
The incident occurred during a period of high temperatures in Britain, with the country experiencing its third heatwave of the year. The conditions at the time were potentially record-breaking, with some regions experiencing temperatures around 36C.
Wizz Air was contacted for comment regarding the incident.