Holidaymakers on a Ryanair flight from Tenerife to Manchester were left in distress after enduring a five-hour delay on the runway due to a broken air conditioning system. The flight, which was scheduled to depart on Saturday, August 24, was eventually canceled, forcing passengers into a 21-hour ordeal before they finally landed in the UK the following day.
With temperatures outside reaching the high 20s Celsius, the lack of air conditioning inside the plane made conditions unbearable. One passenger reported that his right foot became swollen and inflamed as the wait dragged on, describing the situation as “horrendous.” The sweltering heat caused young children to scream in discomfort, and passengers were drenched in sweat.
Despite repeated requests, passengers were only provided with a limited amount of water—just a small plastic cup for children—while adults were forced to purchase their own drinks at a cost of 16 euros. The situation escalated when, after hours of waiting, passengers were informed that the flight had been canceled.
Ryanair arranged for a coach to transport passengers to a hotel for the night, but the coach was also canceled, leaving passengers to find taxis on their own. The replacement flight eventually brought them to Manchester the following day, but the experience left many with a bitter memory of their holiday.
One passenger expressed his frustration, saying, “It was just a nightmare. We had a great time on holiday, but whenever anyone asks us about it, this is all we talk about. The kids are saying they don’t want to fly again, and I’m a nervous flyer anyway, so I think that’s me done with flying now.”
In response, a Ryanair spokesperson apologized for the delay, stating, “This flight from Tenerife to Manchester was delayed and subsequently canceled due to a minor technical issue with the aircraft. Passengers remained onboard while engineers serviced the aircraft. During this time, the crew opened the bars to provide passengers with access to snacks and refreshments, which they can claim back expenses for at ryanair.com. As the flight was then canceled, passengers were provided with overnight accommodation and a replacement flight was organized to bring passengers to Manchester the following day.”
The spokesperson concluded by expressing regret for the inconvenience caused, emphasizing that the delay was “beyond Ryanair’s control.
