Passengers on a Ryanair flight scheduled to depart Malta for Birmingham on August 10 experienced extreme heat and distress after a significant delay, with one 16-year-old passenger reporting that others passed out and threw up. The flight, FR7268, was originally slated to depart at 5:40 p.m. but did not take off until around 7 p.m.
Ryanair attributed the initial delay to a minor technical issue, which was further compounded by a passenger falling ill. However, the extended wait on the tarmac and on buses reportedly led to deteriorating conditions for those on board.
According to passenger Eva Gregory, 16, travelers were initially transported to the aircraft via bus. She stated that they spent approximately 30 minutes on a bus without air conditioning, followed by another 30 minutes on a second bus with limited air conditioning. Ryanair, however, stated that passengers were taken to the plane by bus and remained in the vehicle for an additional ten minutes where air conditioning was available.
Gregory alleged that passengers then waited on the tarmac in intense heat for about 20 minutes before boarding. She described the cabin as extremely hot upon boarding, with the air conditioning not functioning. Passengers reportedly sat on the plane without air conditioning for over an hour. "It was like walking into extreme heat," Gregory told NeedToKnow. "We got on the plane but were sitting and waiting in the heat with no air conditioning at all for over an hour."
She further claimed that passengers became agitated, with some removing their clothing due to the heat. Gregory stated she witnessed two passengers lose consciousness and heard of others being sick. "Two people passed out, although I'm not sure how many were throwing up," she said. "I was experiencing the feeling of needing to throw up, but as I have a phobia of being sick, it gave me a panic attack."
Ryanair stated that the crew opened onboard bars, allowing passengers to purchase drinks and snacks. Gregory, however, claimed that staff did not offer free water, even to those experiencing medical issues. She also mentioned that Ryanair cabin crew reportedly attempted to prevent passengers from boarding until the air conditioning issue was resolved.
"The Ryanair cabin crew absolutely did their best," Gregory said. "They were telling them not to let us onboard until the air conditioning was fixed. The other workers did not listen to the cabin crew and then the crew were the ones dealing with passengers' anger when it was not their fault."
Footage shared online by Gregory appeared to show passengers in the cabin while crew members attended to individuals. Text accompanying the video alleged that people were "passing out, throwing up, crying and having panic attacks."
The air conditioning reportedly began to function gradually after the aircraft took off. A Ryanair spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the flight experienced delays due to a minor technical issue and a passenger becoming ill onboard. "Following an inspection of the aircraft by engineers, the aircraft was cleared to operate, and this flight departed Malta at 7pm local," the spokesperson added.
