Holidaymakers left on grounded plane for three hours in 37ºC

Several of the 300 passengers on the plane which was due to leave for Manchester took photographs and posted them on Twitter and Facebook – including a young woman comforting her overheated 11-month-old niece (first picture) and a woman whose mother had to sit down next to an open fridge because she felt faint (second picture).

They had been told just before boarding that their flight home was 'delayed', but not for how long, and assumed that as the boarding gates at the airport in Arrecife were open and they were being sent through that they would only be hanging around for a few minutes.

But with temperatures inside the cabin rising to 37ºC, many became dizzy and dehydrated and some began vomiting in the toilets.

The stench of vomit and a powerful smell of kerosin from the cabin made them feel worse.

Many of the passengers had very young children as they were returning from a family holiday.

Babies were crying and some of the passengers were elderly, and their younger companions began to fear for their health.

One passenger, who is diabetic, said he had left his medication in his suitcase in the hold as he would not normally need it for the length of a flight from Lanzarote to Manchester, but became worried when time went on and the plane showed no signs of taking off.

He had to get staff to unload his case, but was up against opposition and had difficulty in reaching his medicine.

Head of operations at Thomas Cook Airlines, Paul Hutchings, says the plane was delayed due to a 'technical problem' and insists the firm 'made every effort' to get going as soon as possible.

Hutchings said he 'understood' that customers were forced to suffer 'unacceptable temperatures for a long time' and apologised on behalf of Thomas Cook.

The company agrees the wait was 'unacceptable' and has launched an inquiry.

Passengers on short-haul flights delayed for three hours or more are automatically entitled to €250 in compensation, but Thomas Cook says it will double this for each and every traveller on board.

Photographs by Ruth Ratcliffe on Twitter (@ratcliffe_ruth)