Ryanair Flight FR6597 Stranded on Tarmac, Passengers Endure Extreme Heat and Delays
Barcelona-Manchester service faces six-hour delay, with reports of fainting and children in distress amidst soaring temperatures.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
Ryanair flight FR6597, bound for Manchester from Barcelona, endured severe delays and passenger distress on Monday, with travellers reportedly trapped on the tarmac for hours in extreme heat.
The flight, initially scheduled for a 4:50 pm local time departure, saw passengers waiting until approximately 6 pm before receiving permission to board the aircraft.
This initial delay preceded a protracted ordeal for those on board the Barcelona to Manchester service.
The aircraft then sat on the tarmac for two hours before its eventual departure, with cabin temperatures reportedly climbing into the 40s.
Passenger Rachel described holidaymakers as 'trapped' inside the aircraft for over two hours.
She stated, 'After the first 45 minutes people were dripping in sweat and we just weren't getting any information.'
After the first 45 minutes people were dripping in sweat and we just weren't getting any information.
Rachel observed the situation intensifying, adding, 'It was getting hotter and hotter and we were sitting there and we weren't moving.'
Another 20 minutes passed with the aircraft remaining stationary, further exacerbating the discomfort.
Passengers then received news of an additional delay, pushing their departure time back even further.
Rachel recounted the escalating distress, stating, 'At that point it was so hot people were asking to be let off the plane.'
She described the conditions as 'getting really bad' and 'scary at that point because there was no cool air at all.'
Rachel confirmed, 'Everyone was pouring with sweat,' likening the experience to 'being locked inside a sauna.'
She noted the presence of crying children and confirmed, 'It felt exactly like that.'
A woman with a heart condition, seated behind Rachel, reportedly fainted and slumped over.
Rachel estimated the temperature must have been in the high 40s, observing her own children's faces were puffy from the heat.
She claimed, 'It was actually shocking how they treated us,' adding, 'They wouldn't do that to animals.'
It was actually shocking how they treated us. They wouldn't do that to animals.
Passengers were informed that if anyone chose to disembark, they would not be permitted to reboard the aircraft.
Rachel also claimed a few people fainted, including her husband who nearly lost consciousness.
A school trip comprising approximately 30 children, aged 15 or 16, was also on board the delayed flight.
Inside the terminal, some male passengers removed their dripping wet tops, but local officials ordered them to put them back on, Rachel claimed.
She called the entire experience 'absolutely horrific,' reflecting widespread passenger frustration.
Passengers received four euro vouchers, which Rachel claimed could only be used within the terminal, but the shops inside were shut, rendering them useless.
Ryanair attributed the flight delay to thunderstorms at Barcelona Airport, a common challenge for air travel in the region.
The airline stated passengers disembarked during the delay and reboarded once weather conditions improved, a standard procedure in such circumstances.
The flight ultimately departed for Manchester at 00:29 am local time, a significant six-hour delay from its scheduled departure.
Passengers were charged three euro and 50 cents for bottles of water, a detail that further fueled discontent among those on board.