Plane passengers found themselves 'gasping for air' as they were stuck onboard in this week's scorching hot temperatures.
The sweating customers said they were left waiting on the hot Ryanair aircraft for hours that was due to take off to Budapest at 1.55pm on Monday, July 18.
A series of delays meant the flight did not leave the ground until 5.30pm after temperatures outside rose to a sweltering 35.2C, LeicestershireLive reported.
The passengers stuck onboard said they were struggling for breath as they tried to get to the aircraft's doors.
Monday was the hottest day on record in the Midlands, before the record was broken again yesterday in a heatwave made more intense by manmade climate change.
Will Crossley, who was among the passengers onboard, said he started to worry when flight attendants shuffled away ahead of pre-flight safety messages with no explanation.
The crew then announced that they were waiting for the captain to arrive and should not be long.
The 31-year-old said: "We were reassured this would be a very short delay. However, the promise of moving in 15 minutes, would then change to 30 minutes, then 45 minutes and so on."
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Mr Crossley said when the captain finally arrived he was met with cheers and applause - only for passengers to face a further wait which the Castle Donington airport later claimed was due to the plane missing its departure slot.
He added: "This is when they opened the doors again, as the temperature was really rising in the cabin and people were gasping to get a bit of fresh air.
"We were asking for water but they said they didn’t have any onboard so everybody was forced to purchase other soft drinks to just stay hydrated.
"There were arguments between passengers trying to get to the doors. Passengers were arguing with flight attendants and just general outrage and upset from everybody onboard.
"We finally land at our destination at 7.45pm (GMT) but should have been there at 4.20pm."
Airports, with their vast expanses of dark tarmac and no shade, were roasted in the scorching sun on Monday and Tuesday.
The temperature reached 40.2C in Heathrow, West London on Tuesday, just 0.1C behind the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK.
Luton Airport has to ground dozens of flights as the tarmac of its runway began to melt in the heat.
A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "This flight from East Midlands to Budapest (18 July) was delayed ahead of take-off due to Air Traffic Control delays, which are completely beyond Ryanair’s control.
"Crew opened the bars for passengers one hour after boarding (by 3pm), where meals and refreshments – including water – were served. This flight departed at 5:15pm. Ryanair sincerely apologises to passengers for this delay.”
A spokesperson for East Midlands Airport said: "The welfare of passengers and colleagues is a key priority during this current heatwave.
"We have put in place measures to protect everyone on site, especially those working outdoors, and to make it as comfortable as possible for passengers.
"Our advice to passengers who are using this airport in the coming days is to prepare by keeping well-hydrated.
"Water bottles can be re-filled at water fountains or in any of the terminal food and drink outlets. We have not experienced any disruption due to the current weather conditions."
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