EasyJet passengers claim they were locked in an airport corridor in sweltering heat without water or access to toilets before being told their flight had been cancelled.
Holidaymakers at Pisa International Airport said they tried to force their way out of the tunnel yesterday as temperatures soared due to the lack of ventilation.
Passengers waiting to board their flight to Manchester also claim the heat caused some passengers to faint and that mums were stripping their babies down to their nappies to prevent them from overheating.
After less than an hour, they were released from the area and told their flight had been cancelled. EasyJet has since apologised for the delay and for "any discomfort any customers experienced".
Passengers ended up waiting at the airport for six hours, further claiming they were forced to book hotels and taxis.
RAF veteran Joe Rylance, 83, from North Wales, struggled to sit on the hard airport floors as his son Neil, 52, says the travel group of eight will be stuck in Pisa for another two days.
Neil says the disruption will leave his family out of pocket by more than £2,000.
Speaking today from Pisa, Neil said: "It was chaos. There were three easyJet flights all thrown together with nobody organising where we were meant to be going.
"Every single person who was meant to be on the Manchester flight was locked in this corridor - locked at both ends.
"Within 10 minutes it was getting hotter and hotter and hotter.
"There were babies that were stripped off because they were absolutely sweating and there was no air.
"We tried to kick down a fire exit just to get some air for people.
"There was no representative from easyJet seen in the whole of this experience.
"My dad just wants to get home. It's taken a lot out of him, which is really upsetting.
"My daughter is a care worker, my partner is a police officer and we were meant to be out here relaxing after years of not having a holiday. Now we're all so stressed."
Neil added: "Communication is so important, but there was absolutely none of it.
"I just wish they talked to us, let us know what was going on. We still have no idea what happened."
A video captured by Neil shows passengers attempting to force their way out of the fire exit.
Other passengers took to social media yesterday whilst stuck at the airport to vent their frustrations at the airline.
One said: "We've been delayed already and now ushered into the boarding tunnel with no food, water or toilets and people are fainting and overheating.
"No communication, and no way out. Send help."
While another traveller wrote: "HELP! Bloody madness at gate 22 at £Pisa airport.
"11:30 flight to Manchester delayed; passengers hot; no water, no toilets; no security and airside open to us all."
One today said: "Absolute s**tshow from @easyJet at Pisa airport yesterday.
"Eight hours in the airport to be told it's cancelled, after being held in a tunnel without access to food and drink. Madness!"
Airports across the UK have been hit with a raft of delays, leaving thousands of passengers out of pocket.
An EasyJet spokesperson told The Mirror: “We are very sorry that flight EZY1848 from Pisa to Manchester on 21 June was delayed and subsequently cancelled. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and our team did all possible to minimise the impact of the delay for our customers.
"While no issues were raised to our team, we are sorry for any discomfort any customers experienced while initially waiting to board and our team escorted customers back to the terminal and provided refreshments. Once the flight was cancelled, customers were offered the option to rebook, or receive a refund, and we are also providing hotel accommodation and meals in Pisa.
“Once again, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
