Panic and banging on doors aboard Air Haifa – details and company response

An Air Haifa flight from Haifa to Larnaca was delayed for two hours after landing: passengers were locked in the cabin without ventilation, and two women fainted. The company attributed the incident to the simultaneous arrival of three flights and the airport's unpreparedness, apologized, and promised $75 compensation to each passenger.

A flight by Israeli airline Air Haifa, traveling from Haifa to Larnaca, encountered a serious incident after landing. Passengers were locked in the cabin for nearly two hours in heat and without ventilation, causing panic: several people felt unwell, and two women lost consciousness. According to the company, the cause was the simultaneous arrival of three Air Haifa flights at Larnaca airport, which was not ready for such a load and could not quickly connect the aircraft to ground air conditioning. Witnesses said the crew remained silent for the first twenty minutes, then shut down the engines, which cut off ventilation. On board were many families with children and elderly people. Passengers began banging on the doors, demanding to be let out. Air Haifa's management apologized and promised each customer a $75 credit toward ticket purchases within two years, and launched an internal investigation.