Talks are being held to try and prevent a repeat of the scenes of passengers having to sleep on the floor of LF Wade International Airport after a transatlantic flight was diverted there.

The images of hundreds of travellers bedding down at the flight hub were flashed across the world after an American Airlines aircraft from Miami to London was forced to land in Bermuda because of suspected mechanical problems just after midnight on Monday.

Skyport said discussions are being held with relevant parties to see how dealing with such situations in future could be improved.

Aaron Adderley, president of Skyport, told The Royal Gazette: “A debrief is being scheduled with all stakeholders to see how we can collectively assist airlines in better handling such situations.”

The Bermuda Tourism Authority declined to say whether it was concerned that the incident may have done reputational damage to the island’s image as a holiday destination.

The situation attracted international attention, with pictures of travellers bedding down on the airport’s floor with blankets and pillows from the stranded plane getting much coverage.

The headline in the British Daily Mail’s online version, one of the most widely read internet news outlets in the English language, read: “Furious travellers endure a 20-hour wait on the airport floor in Bermuda after being 'abandoned in the middle of the Atlantic' ”.

The New York Post’s take on the incident was: “Trapped in paradise: Airline passengers stranded for 20 hours in Bermuda after flight diverted.”

Some passengers spoke of feeling “abandoned” by the airline, being cold and enduring a lack of food.

The 300 stranded travellers could have been put up at hotels on the island, but the airline decided against the move, The Royal Gazette revealed.

However, the airline provided accommodation for its crew at a local hotel.

And the Health Ministry said that officials were at the airport at the time to provide Covid-19 tests.

Asked if the BTA had concerns the widespread publicity surrounding the incident could damage Bermuda’s image as a holiday destination, a spokesman said: “The tourism office does not have authority over airport operations or Covid protocols, and we aren’t privy to the process or details of this incident. It would be unfair for us to provide commentary.”

The passengers were able to leave the airport at 8pm on Monday night and continued their journey to London on a replacement aircraft.