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Passengers on a ‘sauna’ plane suffered panic attacks and had difficulty breathing for two hours after their flight from Heathrow to Bangkok was held up for two hours before being cancelled altogether.
The Boeing 777 departed from London’s Heathrow International Airport on July 25 bound for Bangkok, Thailand, when its air conditioning failed.
Footage shows hundreds of travellers fanning themselves as they brave the heat on flight TG 917, operated by Thai Airways, the national state-owned airline.
University of Exeter student Warawalan Maksaen, 26, said conditions were “like a sauna” and passengers were eventually removed from the plane before being put back on a flight the next day.
Warawalan said: ‘People were stuck in the plane and couldn’t get out. We were hot and couldn’t breathe. At least in a sauna you can get out whenever you want. This was a form of torture.’
The student said the flight was scheduled to depart at 9:25 p.m., but the captain reported a problem with the air conditioning, which prevented the plane from taking off.
The Boeing 777 departed from London’s Heathrow International Airport bound for Bangkok, Thailand, when its air conditioning system failed
Footage shows hundreds of travellers fanning themselves as they brave the heat on Thai Airways flight TG 917
Passengers were forced to remain indoors for two hours until 11pm while the problem was checked. She alleged that no food or water was provided while passengers waited on the hot plane.
Another passenger said passengers were left sweating and one had a panic attack, so a flight attendant brought water to the galley and opened the door to let in fresh air.
Warawalan said passengers were finally allowed to disembark at 11pm as there were no technicians available at the airport due to the curfew. The flight was then rescheduled for the following day.
She added: ‘We were given two choices. We could sleep at the airport until the flight was rescheduled or take a bus to find a hotel.
‘I and many other passengers went to the bus station to wait for transport to a hotel.
‘There was no assistance from the airline and the last group of passengers waited aimlessly until the last three buses arrived at 2am.’
Passengers were forced to remain indoors for two hours until 11pm while the problem was checked
Another passenger said passengers were left sweaty and one had a panic attack
Warawalan said the hotel provided by the airline did not have enough rooms for all the passengers, with only eight rooms offered despite the airline’s assurances.
The hotel gave priority to groups and families, while Warawalan, who was travelling alone, had to find her own accommodation.
Luckily, she knew the area and found a hotel at 3am.
She added: ‘Passengers asked when there would be a new flight and how they would compensate passengers, but the airline did not give clear answers.
“We could only gather information from talking to each other, so everyone was confused.”
The Warawalan was boarded the next day at 15:53. The captain reported that the air conditioning had been repaired, but that the engine would not start.
She said passengers were made to wait on the plane before finally being removed and allowed back on board at 6:49 p.m.
Warawalan added: ‘I was so disappointed with Thai Airways. Their service was terrible and I sent a complaint by email after the incident.
‘I have received an offer of compensation, either in the form of cash or a discount voucher for my next flight. I have chosen cash because I do not want to fly with this airline anymore.
‘Foreign passengers who were determined to visit Thailand were extremely disappointed with the ‘national airline’. They did not want to travel anymore because their first impression had already been ruined.’