The Ryanair flight from the southern city of Katowice to Dortmund in Germany took off while passengers were still trying to get through a crowded security check.

One of the grounded passengers, identified only as Jakub, told the TVN24 news website: “There was huge congestion at the security check.

“In the course of an hour there were 11 flights, so there were 2,000 people waiting.” Jakub said there was originally only one line open through security.

“People were so crushed that even when passengers to Dortmund were called to go through first, it was impossible. When we finally got through security, even though it was before the flight time, the gate was closed.”

Jakub and his family were not alone. In total, 42 passengers missed their flight due to the holdup.

Another disappointed traveler told the news service there was no help available.

“First, we asked if the flight could wait,” the passenger said. “But no one, either from security or from Ryanair, wanted to talk to us.”

Stranded passengers were told only that they could claim compensation from the airport. TVN24 posted a video shot by one passenger in which an airport employee is heard saying: “There’s nothing we can do.”

A Katowice Airport spokesperson offered an apology, adding that the cause of the problem was being investigated and that the airport would “draw conclusions for the future.”

Ryanair did not immediately answer when asked by TVP World to comment.