PASSENGERS have claimed there are major delays to outgoing flights at Bournemouth Airport with people left “suffering” inside hot planes for hours.

It is understood that at least three planes are currently “stuck” on the tarmac at Bournemouth Airport – with several conflicting reasons being relayed by passengers.

A man on Ryanair flight 5944 bound for Malaga says the plane has been sat still for around three hours with two or more planes in a similar position. He said: “The captain told us that the airport is closed between 2-4pm. I thought this was strange so rang the airport.

“The bloke who answered said he was unaware of this so I asked him if he could find out the reason. He came back a minute later and said it was because of air traffic control but they couldn’t tell him why.”

The flight was due to leave at 12.50.

Dorset Echo: Bournemouth AirportBournemouth Airport (Image: Newsquest)

Resident Sue Crane told the Echo her asthma suffering son is stuck on the same flight and that his “life is at risk” due to the heat.

She said: “This is a desperate plea for help as my son has been sat waiting and suffering for three hours. He says he can’t breathe and that there is a lot of anger on the plane because it’s just not clear what’s happening.

“These people are sat in a tin can in this heat and have been offered no water to anyone. How can they do this? It’s outrageous, I don’t understand why they can’t let them off.

"It’s appalling.”

Sue also said her son believed the delays were down to “staff shortages”.

Both Ryanair and Bournemouth Airport have been approached for more information.

A spokesperson for NATS said they don't provide the air traffic control service for Bournemouth.

The Bournemouth Airport website says the flight to Malaga was due to depart at 3.50pm. A Ryanair flight to Dublin was scheduled for 1.55pm and a TUI flight to Lanzarote scheduled to depart at 2.15pm.

Are you stuck on the flights or had family members stuck? Let us know