Passengers Stuck Two Hours Without Air Conditioning on Air Haifa Flight to Larnaca

On August 4, passengers aboard an Air Haifa flight from Haifa to Larnaca, Cyprus, endured nearly two hours trapped on the plane without air conditioning. The aircraft's engine was shut down while still on the tarmac, disabling the air conditioning and ventilation systems amid the August heat. Passengers, including infants, children, and adults, suffered from the stifling conditions, with two women reportedly fainting due to the lack of air.

The delay was caused by the simultaneous arrival of three Air Haifa flights at Larnaca Airport, which was unprepared to handle the volume. This led to a prolonged wait on board for one of the flights while the plane was disconnected from the air conditioning system. Passengers described a distressing atmosphere, with people knocking on doors and shouting at flight attendants for information, which was not provided for about 20 minutes before the engine was turned off.

Air Haifa issued an apology, explaining that the delay in connecting the aircraft to the air conditioning system was due to unexpected maintenance constraints at Larnaca Airport. The airline is investigating the incident and offered each affected passenger a $75 credit valid for two years toward future flights as compensation.