AS Monaco's Champions League campaign faced an unexpected hurdle when their flight to Belgium was disrupted by a malfunctioning air conditioning system, forcing players to strip down to their underwear in a desperate attempt to cool down. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, just hours before their scheduled match against Club Brugge.

The team's flight turned into a "nightmare" when the air conditioning system failed mid-flight, causing the cabin temperature to soar. Players were left "drenched in sweat" and frantically fanning themselves with whatever they could find, including in-flight magazines. The extreme heat led the squad to strip down to their underwear. Dutch defender Jordan Teze captured the chaotic scene on his phone, sharing footage of his half-naked teammates on social media. The images quickly went viral, showing players sweating and joking as they tried to cope with the sweltering conditions. Some players even stepped outside the aircraft to catch some fresh air.

With passenger safety at risk, Monaco decided to postpone their flight until Thursday morning. Head coach Adi Hütter improvised his pre-match press conference at the club's training ground on Wednesday night, explaining that the decision to postpone was due to technical reasons that made it impossible to guarantee everyone's safety. "I've never experienced anything like this, but there are circumstances you simply cannot control," he added. Despite the discomfort, Hütter stressed that the squad remained focused on the upcoming Champions League match. "We are professionals and we prepare as normal for the match," he said.

The incident sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with fans expressing amusement and disbelief. Memes, jokes, and witty comparisons flooded platforms like Twitter and Instagram. One fan commented, "I'm crying what the heck," while another tweeted, "You cannot make this up".

Monaco's journey to the Champions League opener became a viral story that will likely be remembered throughout their campaign. Despite the disrupted travel plans, the team rescheduled their flight for the following day and remained focused on their match against Club Brugge. Hutter affirmed that the team would travel to Bruges and that this was the best solution, referencing a similar travel arrangement for a previous match.