The sweltering summer heat has caused an unexpected problem for flight attendants: exploding soda cans.
At least 20 Southwest Airlines flight attendants sustained injuries this summer when trying to open the beverages, according to The Washington Post.
The outlet said the airline doesn’t use refrigerated trucks because it doesn’t provide guests with meals or perishable food, so the beverages are typically stored inside airports.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed the report to Business Insider, saying the scorching temperatures blanketing the United States are to blame.
“We’re aware of the issue and have been taking steps to keep onboard beverages cooler, especially in our airports experiencing extreme temperatures,” a statement read. “It’s a cross-functional effort between our airport teams and those in the air.”
“Airports where we have a large presence — such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, and many in Texas — continue to receive record temperatures, with severe heat arriving earlier and persisting throughout the summer,” the statement continued. “For the safety of our employees and customers, we are taking education and mitigation measures on all heat-related hazards.”
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Parts of the world have been engulfed by extreme heat this summer. Climate scientists said 2023 was the hottest year on record since 1850, and 2024 appears to be following suit.
Up to 85 howler monkeys dropped dead from trees in Tabasco after a heat wave hit southeast Mexico this May.
And wildfires erupted on the Greek island of Cyprus in June after a heat wave.
Temperatures soared this month in Italy, too, where the health ministry placed 12 cities under its most intense heat warning, NPR reported.
In the United States, the heat is exacerbating problems in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
The Weather Channel reported that at least six people in the Houston area have died due to skyrocketing temperatures, and officials said the death toll is expected to rise.
CenterPoint Energy, the main energy provider in Houston, said more than 2 million customers lost access to power following the hurricane.