Thomas Cook apologises to ‘sweltering’ passengers

Thomas Cook has apologised to passengers left ‘sweltering’ on an aircraft at Manchester Airport for four hours before it was cancelled.

Almost 300 passengers heading for Kos sat in their seats on the tarmac yesterday, the hottest day of the year so far, waiting to take off.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the passengers boarded at 1.20pm and the flight was due to depart Manchester at 1.55pm but was delayed because of technical problems.

Passengers told the MEN they were left sweating and dehydrated as temperatures reached 25C.

Three-and-a-half hours after it was due to take off, the flight was cancelled.

Andrew Whitehead, 53, from Oldham, told the MEN: "It was absolutely roasting outside so you can imagine how hot and stuffy it was on the plane."

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: "We’re extremely sorry to our customers for this delay which was due to a technical issue.

"Unfortunately it transpired it was not repairable today.

"We have arranged for an alternative aircraft to take the passengers and we’ve arranged hotel accommodation and transport for them tonight."