Extreme heat forces airlines to leave passengers behind at Las Vegas airport

American Airlines offered compensation as temperatures hit 114 degrees

On July 24, American Airlines offered compensation to passengers who voluntarily gave up their seats on a flight departing Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where temperatures reached 114 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius), the Associated Press reported.

In an August 5 article, AP reporter Rio Yamat examined why extreme heat can force airlines to leave passengers behind. The challenge is well known at airports in hot climates, from the U.S. Southwest to the Middle East, according to the AP.

Researchers say human-caused climate change could make such disruptions more common.