Tourists swelter in 52C heat on Boeing plane after air conditioning failure, as doctor pleads with pilot to return warning ‘children will die’

Terrified tourists were left fearing for their safety on board a plane after being trapped in a cabin reaching a sweltering temperature of 52C.

The air conditioning unit on Mavi Gok Airlines’ Antalya-Muenster flight, a Boeing 737-800, from Turkey to Germany on June 6 broke before takeoff, leaving passengers terrified that “their children will not survive.”

The plane remained on the hot tarmac for almost an hour, raising temperatures even further.

Dominik Janssen, from Leer, Lower Saxony, who was returning home with his family after a stay in Turkey, told German media: “When we boarded, we immediately noticed how hot it was on the plane.”

His wife Nancy said she helped a five-month-old baby whom she fanned in an attempt to keep him cool.

Dominik said: ‘The children were getting louder and louder and everyone was running out of water. The situation was very precarious.

‘A father and a woman were scared to death for their children. Panic spread to everyone.”

According to passengers, the crew’s help was scarce. Instead, flight preparations continued and the Boeing moved toward the runway.

A Turkish-speaking doctor addressed the crew with a dramatic appeal and Nancy said, “He said that if we take off now, the children will not survive.”

The pilot of flight 4M413 finally returned to the airport terminal, but things did not improve there either.

Dominik said: “The airline offered no help.”

According to reports, they did not even distribute water.

In a statement, the airline said: “The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority.”

He also reportedly promised to work with relevant authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.

MailOnline has contacted Boeing for comment.