Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Athens to Doha went to extreme lengths to regulate their body temperatures as the Boeing 777 sat for 3 hours on the tarmac in Athens on Monday while the plane’s air conditioning systems failed to function along with other systems.
With 100 degree temperatures in the cabin, passengers began to strip off their clothes. Footage from the plane showed passengers fanning themselves and each other, drenched in sweat. Some even appeared to pass out due to dehydration.
An emergency weather bulletin had been issued in Greece for excessive heat this week, closing the Acropolis and schools, and halting garbage collection.
Passengers were finally allowed off the aircraft following the mechanical delay. According to Qatar Airways,
Qatar Airways sincerely apologizes for the delay to passengers traveling on flight QR204 from Athens (ATH) to Doha (DOH) on Monday 10 June 2024, which was due to a technical issue.
We regard the safety and comfort of our passengers and crew as our highest priority at all times, and have offered our apologies to each passenger affected by this unforeseen disruption and the inconvenience caused.
Passengers reportedly received only a cup of water and a small soft drink during the delay. Qatar Airways eventually reboarded the aircraft and landed in Doha 16 hours later than scheduled, with the airline saying they’re honoring EU261 compensation.
How many passenger were taken to the hospital for medical conditions caused by the time in the airplane? Did all have Jetway Jesus moments and recover rapidly when the door was finally opened?
Qatar Airways and the Athens airport could not figure out a way to deplane the passengers and send them back to an air conditioned terminal?
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Anybody going to Athens this summer? Anybody? Anyone?
Doesn’t seem like comfort is the highest priority. Why do they straight out lie?
I will never understand this, at some point deplane and get people back to safety.
3 hours on the tarmac, why?
Qatari is a disgusting airline, ran by trashy yet flashy people
Couldn’t pay me enough to fly that filthy, inhumane airline
Services are going from bad to worse in Qatar Airways
Criminal charges should be filed for this. This is no joke.
Qatar Airways is the best and will always be the best airline we will ever have.
It was an unfortunate situation that happened and that can happen to any other airline.
Let us not rush to make quick decisions and point fingers just because of one mistake, if we were to make negative decisions everytime something bad happened in our lives, we would not be where we are today.
N/B: Qatar Airways has grown to be the best, and to clarify this, I know they already put measures to prevent this from ever happening again.
Took a QR flight ladt week from Sydney to Doha. “Aircon control not working” was the excuse for a 15 degree cabin temperature during the 15h flight. Someone may have overcompensated to average things out.