Twenty passengers were forced to leave a British Airways flight before take-off when extreme heat made the aircraft too heavy to launch into the air.
The passengers were removed from the aircraft in order for extra fuel to be pumped into the plane as it left Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence bound for London City Airport earlier this month.
The BA Embraer ERJ-190 needed extra fuel to reach the right altitude for cruising as it struggled against the searing 35C heat, The Daily Mail reports.
As heat levels made the air less dense, more fuel was required for the aircraft to function normally, but this imposed greater weight on the plane.
Observers said the problem was worsened by the short 5,118ft runway at the airport, under half the size of Gatwick's 10,859ft runway.
Staff originally wanted 36 people to leave the plane, but only 20 volunteered to do so, according to a British woman on the flight.
Multiple airlines are reported to have had the same problem during the sweltering summer heat, when sudden temperature changes can cause unexpected difficulties.
The pilot is required to check the "density altitude" - an aviation performance indicator based on the temperature, to ensure a plane can safely get in the air on the available runway.
BA issued an apology to passengers who were inconvenienced.
A spokesman told the Daily Mail: "Due to the unique nature of the airfield with a short runway, extreme temperatures affect air pressure, so aircraft weight must be reduced.
"We’re sorry for the inconvenience this caused our customers and our teams worked hard to get them to their destination as quickly as possible."
BA added that the affected customers had been booked onto the next available flights, with hotel accommodation and transport arranged for them.
As climate change leads to more extreme temperatures across continental Europe, aviation experts have warned smaller airports could be forced to reduce their weight.
This could lead to higher prices for flights to destinations such as Spain, Italy or Greece as aircraft take fewer passengers on board.
