Travellers on a Ryanair flight desperately fanned themselves after the air conditioning on a plane broke down before departure.

Footage filmed on July 31 in Bergamo, Italy, shows passengers using safety cards to keep cool in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius as their flight to Porto, Portugal, waited on the tarmac.

The filmer also claims a number of small children were on the flight.

The footage emerges amid a crisis for Ryanair as disputes with staff, poor weather and increased demand during summer saw dozens of flights delayed and cancelled over the weekend.