reader Posted June 11 Posted June 11 From The Nation Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight heading to Doha on Monday nearly suffocated after the plane’s air-conditioning system stopped working while it was waiting to take off. Among the passengers on flight QR204 were 49 members of Thailand’s national Muay Thai team, staffers and reporters who were returning home from Athens after participating in the IFMA Senior World Championships 2024. The tournament was held from May 31 to June 10 at Dimitris Tofalos National Indoor Sports Hall in Patras, Greece. After being stuck in the stifling heat for three hours without any notification or explanation from the airline, the captain eventually decided to let passengers off the plane, a source said. Some passengers reportedly suffered a nosebleed, while others relied on oxygen masks to help with breathing, the source added. A physical confrontation also nearly broke out between passengers and flight crew during the incident. Smoke was seen emitting from the aircraft’s rear while it was waiting to take off, prompting airport officials to put fire trucks on standby in case of fire. The source said passengers had not been given any information on the situation by the airline or crew. Muay Thai athlete Thananchai Sitsongpeenong told reporters that he only spotted the smoke after he got off the plane. “I consider myself lucky to have survived this,” he said, adding that he and other passengers were practically melting in the sauna-like heat on board. vinapu 1 Quote
vinapu Posted June 11 Posted June 11 that's gross. Surprisingly crew did not act on it sooner - they must feel the same heat. Still good it happened on the ground , not mid air over Indian Ocean. I once was in opposite situation on China Eastern's Shanghai bound flight in December 2014. It was so cold aboard that majority of passengers were wearing jackets and hats. reader 1 Quote
Keithambrose Posted June 11 Posted June 11 7 hours ago, vinapu said: that's gross. Surprisingly crew did not act on it sooner - they must feel the same heat. Still good it happened on the ground , not mid air over Indian Ocean. I once was in opposite situation on China Eastern's Shanghai bound flight in December 2014. It was so cold aboard that majority of passengers were wearing jackets and hats. One of the problems with Qatar, and Emirates, is that they are great till things go wrong, then they are very poor. unicorn, 18past19 and vinapu 3 Quote
omega Posted June 12 Posted June 12 17 hours ago, vinapu said: that's gross. Surprisingly crew did not act on it sooner - they must feel the same heat. Still good it happened on the ground , not mid air over Indian Ocean. I once was in opposite situation on China Eastern's Shanghai bound flight in December 2014. It was so cold aboard that majority of passengers were wearing jackets and hats. Unfortunately the crew don't really have the say. The Captain will have been pressured by the company to keep the passengers on board in the hope that the problem would be fixed quickly and the plane could depart swiftly. Disembarking the passengers would have required the whole boarding process to be done again; a good 30-40 minute delay after the issue was resolved. That said, communication and handling such a situation seems like it could have been improved for sure. vinapu 1 Quote
vinapu Posted June 12 Posted June 12 3 hours ago, omega said: The Captain will have been pressured by the company to keep the passengers on board in the hope that the problem would be fixed quickly and the plane could depart swiftly. that likely was a reason Quote
Keithambrose Posted June 12 Posted June 12 15 hours ago, Keithambrose said: One of the problems with Qatar, and Emirates, is that they are great till things go wrong, then they are very poor. I am singed up to a travel blog which highlights how bad Emirates and Qater are when things go wrong, as opposed to their slick pr. 18past19 1 Quote
Members unicorn Posted June 13 Members Posted June 13 10 hours ago, Keithambrose said: I am singed up ... 😁 Quote
Members Thomas_88 Posted June 13 Members Posted June 13 On 6/11/2024 at 6:04 PM, vinapu said: ...not mid air over Indian Ocean... At cruising altitude, the air from outside gets heated, not cooled I think. Quote
Members Thomas_88 Posted June 13 Members Posted June 13 On 6/12/2024 at 12:02 PM, omega said: ...a good 30-40 minute delay after the issue was resolved... In my opinion delay for about one hour seems better than three hours inside a very hot plane. Quote
Members Thomas_88 Posted June 13 Members Posted June 13 Why didn't the passengers use the (emergency) exits? Quote
omega Posted June 13 Posted June 13 2 hours ago, Thomas_88 said: In my opinion delay for about one hour seems better than three hours inside a very hot plane. Not for the profit margins of the company. vinapu 1 Quote
vinapu Posted June 13 Posted June 13 5 hours ago, Thomas_88 said: Why didn't the passengers use the (emergency) exits? seems they were disciplined lot Quote
reader Posted June 14 Author Posted June 14 14 hours ago, Thomas_88 said: At cruising altitude, the air from outside gets heated, not cooled I think. Correct. Keeping cabin cooler can reduce fuel burn so tempting for some carriers to lower temps on long hauls. Quote
Members Thomas_88 Posted June 14 Members Posted June 14 21 hours ago, omega said: Not for the profit margins of the company. You're probably right. Money talks. Quote
Members Thomas_88 Posted June 14 Members Posted June 14 18 hours ago, vinapu said: seems they were disciplined lot Other passengers on similar incidents didn't also either. Quote
Keithambrose Posted June 14 Posted June 14 On 6/13/2024 at 2:27 PM, Thomas_88 said: At cruising altitude, the air from outside gets heated, not cooled I think. I would hope so, as temperature at the cruise altitude is around -48deg! vinapu 1 Quote
Members unicorn Posted June 16 Members Posted June 16 On 6/14/2024 at 6:10 AM, Thomas_88 said: You're probably right. Money talks. I feel a song coming on... bkkmfj2648 1 Quote
18past19 Posted June 20 Posted June 20 On 6/11/2024 at 7:34 PM, Keithambrose said: One of the problems with Qatar, and Emirates, is that they are great till things go wrong, then they are very poor. TK should be on the list too. Quote
vinapu Posted June 20 Posted June 20 6 minutes ago, 18past19 said: TK should be on the list too. what TK stands for ? forgive me if I sound dum, +34 here today Quote
vinapu Posted June 20 Posted June 20 2 minutes ago, 18past19 said: Turkish airline. it was in 90’s here today too. thank you 18past19 1 Quote
Keithambrose Posted June 20 Posted June 20 On 6/12/2024 at 3:43 PM, Keithambrose said: I am singed up to a travel blog which highlights how bad Emirates and Qater are when things go wrong, as opposed to their slick pr. I think I'm on that blog too! Quote
