Unfortunately, although the 35,000 passengers stranded abroad were repatriated, there was insufficient funds for the 100,000 whose holidays had been paid in advance.

Their business plan was ambitious and their bankers had lost patience, causing both businesses to fail and leaving many passengers stranded abroad.

Trains currently on the lines would stop at the next station and stay there, leaving passengers stranded all over Germany in the tens of thousands.

Now, largely because of efforts by Ms. Hanni, more passengers on other flights stranded that day are coming forward.

Swissair's earlier two-day grounding left nearly 40,000 passengers stranded worldwide, and was considered a serious blow to Swiss prestige.

More than 500 flights were canceled, leaving some passengers stranded at the airport during the weekend.

In the same month, the most recent for which figures have been compiled, 270 flights, or nine every day, were canceled, often leaving passengers stranded at remote airports.

A heat wave that struck Europe in 2003 resulted in power cuts that left some passengers stranded on the London Tube network.

Perhaps it was not surprising that boat ended up aground with the passengers stranded ashore.

Four police officers trying to rescue the passengers stranded on the buses early this morning were confirmed dead, officials said.