Ryanair flight FR6597 was supposed to leave Barcelona Airport at 4.50pm local time on Monday but passengers were only allowed to board at around 6pm, with temperatures inside the plane allegedly topping 40C
A traveller aboard a delayed Ryanair service from Spain to Manchester has recounted how passengers were left ‘trapped’ inside the aircraft for over two hours while temperatures climbed into the 40s.
Ryanair flight FR6597 had been scheduled to depart Barcelona Airport at 4.50pm local time on Monday, yet passengers weren’t permitted to board until approximately 6pm. Rather than taking off, those on board were left drenched in perspiration as the Boeing 737 sat stationary on the tarmac for two hours.
Footage captured inside the aircraft showed perspiring travellers attempting to cool themselves while enduring the lengthy wait for take-off. Those expecting complimentary water were reportedly dismayed to learn they’d have to purchase it.
While the temperature outside Barcelona Airport peaked at 31C, conditions inside the cabin allegedly exceeded 40C.
Rachel, a 34-year-old teacher and mum to six-year-old twins, filmed the ordeal and subsequently told the Manchester Evening News that sweltering passengers were ‘trapped’ aboard and forced to pay three euro and 50 cents for bottled water.
She explained: “Everything seemed to be fine at first although it was very hot outside, 32 or 33C. We got a message to sit down as quickly as possible as there would be no air conditioning until the engines were on and we were moving.
“It was getting hotter and hotter and we were sitting there and we weren’t moving. Then they gave out water and we thought it was free of charge but then they came though the cabin asking for whoever had taken the water with their payment machines and taking money. After the first 45 minutes people were dripping in sweat and we just weren’t getting any information.
“The staff were telling us to sit down or we’d miss our slot and everyone sat down and we thought we were leaving but again nothing happened. Another 20 minutes went by and we were still sitting there and still waiting. Then we were told there would be a further delay.
“At that point it was so hot people were asking to be let off the plane. It got really bad. It was scary at that point because there was no cool air at all. Everyone was pouring with sweat. It was like being locked inside a sauna. It felt exactly like that.
“There were children crying. There was a woman with a heart condition seated behind me who fainted. She was slumped over. The temperature must have been in the high 40s. I was looking at my own children and their faces were all puffy because of the heat. It was actually shocking how they treated us. They wouldn’t do that to animals”.
“They were telling us if anyone wanted to get off they wouldn’t be allowed back onto the plane. A few people fainted. My husband nearly fainted. There was a school trip of about 30 children aged 15 or 16.”
At approximately 8.20pm, with departure still nowhere in sight, every passenger was instructed to leave the aircraft. Once inside the terminal building, several male travellers attempted to remove their soaking garments but were promptly ordered by local authorities to put them back on, Rachel recounted.
“I felt for the crew to be honest. I don’t really blame them. They were just doing their jobs and they were as hot as we were. I don’t think they really knew what was going on,” Rachel explained.
Travellers were ultimately instructed to re-board the aircraft, which finally took off just before 1am Spanish time today (Tuesday July 21, 2026), touching down in Manchester at 2am UK time to cheers from the exhausted passengers.
“It was an absolutely horrific experience,” Rachel stated, revealing that travellers received four euro vouchers which could only be redeemed within the terminal. Terminal shops were shut, she noted.
A Ryanair statement said: “This flight from Barcelona to Manchester (21 Jul) was delayed prior to departure due to thunderstorms at Barcelona Airport. Passengers were disembarked during the delay and reboarded once weather conditions improved.
“Passengers booked on this flight received communications via email and PUSH notifications and were issued with refreshment vouchers during the delay. Once weather conditions improved, this flight departed for Manchester at 00:29am local time.”
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