Tens of thousands of British holidaymakers are stranded abroad after the collapse of holiday firm XL Leisure, the country's third-largest tour operator.
Up to 85,000 Britons are thought to be on holidays run by the company, which flies to 50 destinations, mainly in the Mediterranean.
A further 200,000 who have made bookings with XL, which trades under names such as Kosmar, Travel City Direct and the Really Great Holiday Company, are set to have their holidays ruined, after all its flights were grounded.
The firm went into administration at 3am on Friday after failing to secure a multi-million pound rescue package. In a statement it blamed problems caused by "volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn".
Its last flight, due to go to Orlando, was cancelled as it moved down the runway to prepare for take-off at Gatwick airport.
Holidaymakers preparing to come home who booked their trips through XL's tour operators, which also include Freedom Flights, Aspire Holidays and Medlife Hotel, are protected under the ATOL tour operators' licensing scheme, and will have return flights found for them and paid for.
However those who booked flights directly through XL Airways, the company's own airline, could have to organise and pay for making their own way home.
People preparing to leave for holidays with the group, which flew more than 2.3m Britons last year, have been warned not to travel to airports. However the news came too late for many passengers, who were informed by a leaflet they were handed as they arrived.
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