Air Haifa Flight Passengers Suffer Heat and Fainting After Landing in Larnaca

Passengers on an Air Haifa flight to Larnaca, Cyprus, endured nearly two hours trapped on the plane after landing, as the air conditioning system failed amid a heatwave. The incident occurred when three Air Haifa flights arrived simultaneously from Haifa Airport, overwhelming Larnaca Airport's capacity and causing one plane to wait on the tarmac without ventilation. Passengers reported that after 20 minutes of waiting without information, the plane's engines were shut down, cutting power to the air conditioning and ventilation systems. The cabin temperature rose, leading to two women fainting and widespread discomfort among families, including infants and elderly passengers. Passengers described a lack of communication from the flight attendants during the hour and a half delay, with some passengers banging on doors and shouting due to the stifling conditions. Air Haifa apologized for the inconvenience, explaining the delay was caused by unexpected maintenance issues at Larnaca Airport preventing the plane from connecting to the cooling system. The airline announced it will credit each affected passenger $75 toward future flights, valid for two years.