4-Hour Wait Without In-Flight Air Conditioning... Multiple Faintings Amid 44°C Heatwave in the US

"How Many Days for Alternative Flights?" Passengers Endure Notice
Flight Canceled Eventually... Delta Air Lines "Investigating Cause"

At a U.S. airport, a passenger plane's takeoff was delayed amid a heatwave exceeding 44 degrees Celsius. Passengers had to wait for about four hours inside the cabin without air conditioning, and cases of heat-related illnesses occurred one after another.

According to U.S. media outlets such as Fox News and NBC on the 19th (local time), on the 17th, a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was delayed for about 3 to 4 hours at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.

Passengers inside the cabin had to wait without air conditioning, and some complained of heat-related illnesses, lost consciousness, and were transported to the hospital.

Delta Air Lines passenger plane [Image source=Yonhap News]

Krista Gavin, a field producer for Fox News, who was on board the flight, described the incident as a "crazy experience."

On Twitter on the day of the incident, she detailed the situation: "At first, boarding was delayed because the flight attendants had not boarded, and finally, after boarding, we sat inside the hot plane for nearly three hours in 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius) weather." She added, "People are fainting and being taken back to the airport gate."

Gavin also mentioned that the air conditioning inside the cabin was not working, and at least five passengers lost consciousness and were carried out on stretchers or wheelchairs.

The airline reportedly offered passengers the option to disembark the plane midway. However, when informed that it could take several days to rebook a flight to Atlanta once off the plane, passengers chose to remain on board and wait.

Tweet left by Krista Gavin on the day of the incident [Image source=Twitter]

After nearly four hours of delayed takeoff and even flight attendants collapsing, the airline decided to cancel the flight.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, the temperature at Harry Reid International Airport ranged from 111 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (around 46 degrees Celsius) between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. that day.

Meanwhile, the reason for the prolonged delay in the plane's takeoff has not yet been disclosed. Delta Air Lines issued a statement apologizing for what customers experienced on Flight 555 from Las Vegas to Atlanta on the 17th and for the flight cancellation, adding that the Delta team is investigating the situation regarding the uncomfortable cabin temperature.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.