Passengers on a Thai Airways flight faced a distressing ordeal when their flight from London to Bangkok turned into a nightmare due to a malfunction in the air conditioning system. According to a report in the New York Post, the Boeing 777 was stuck on the tarmac for two hours in unbearable heat before the flight was cancelled altogether.
The incident occurred on Thai Airways flight TG 917 on July 25, which was scheduled to depart from London to Bangkok at 9:25 PM. The malfunction turned the aircraft into a sweltering, uncomfortable environment, leaving passengers trapped in a virtual steam room while the crew worked to resolve the issue.
“People were stuck on the plane and couldn’t leave. We were hot and couldn’t breathe. At least in a sauna, you can leave when you want. This was like a form of torture,” Warawalan Maksaen, a student at the University of Exeter who was trapped onboard told the New York Post.
Another passenger reported that the heat was so extreme that travellers began sweating profusely, and one person even had a panic attack. According to Maksaen, passengers were not provided with food or water throughout the ordeal. After two hours, a flight attendant eventually offered water and opened the door to let in some fresh air.
Due to the airport’s curfew, no technicians were available to fix the issue, forcing passengers to disembark the sweltering aircraft at 11 PM. Although the flight was rescheduled for the following day, passengers were left with two challenging options: either spend the night at the airport or take a bus to find a hotel, as per Maksaen.
“Myself and a lot of the other passengers went to the bus station to wait for transportation to a hotel. There was no help from the airline, and the last group of passengers waited aimlessly until the last three buses arrived at 2 AM,” the 26-year-old added.
To make matters worse, the hotel arranged by the airline had only eight rooms available. Families were given priority leaving solo travellers like Maksaen to find their own accommodation. Being familiar with the area helped Maksaen secure a room at a hotel, though it was 3 AM by the time she arrived.
The flight, initially set to depart at 3:45 PM the next day, faced another setback when the engine failed to start. Passengers had to leave the plane once more and were finally allowed to board at 6:49 p.m.
“I was so disappointed by Thai Airways. Their service was appalling, and I sent a complaint email after the incident. I have received a compensation offer, either as cash or a discount voucher for my next flight, which I chose as cash because I do not want to fly with this airline again,” Maksaen said.
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