Passengers on Qatar Airways Plane Stuck in Scorching Heat

On June 10, 2024, passengers aboard Qatar Airways flight QR204 from Athens, Greece to Doha, Qatar were trapped in a grounded plane for more than three hours without air conditioning amidst outside temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). The incident occurred at Athens International Airport, where the flight was delayed due to “sudden unexpected technical issues.”

Passenger Garth Collins shared the ordeal on Instagram, highlighting that people were dehydrating and passing out due to the heat. The situation was exacerbated by Greece experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching over 38 degrees Celsius and causing the closure of popular tourist sites, such as the Acropolis. This heatwave has resulted in several fatalities and disappearances, including the death of British TV personality Michael Mosley.

Australian passenger Jennie Zeiher reported that passengers were given minimal information and that only a few cups of water were distributed. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 1:55 p.m., eventually took off at 6:44 a.m. the following day.

Qatar Airways issued an apology for the inconvenience and delay, stating that the safety and comfort of passengers are their highest priority. Compensation entitlements were communicated to the affected passengers in line with applicable regulations.