Passengers stranded in Bermuda as a result of the terrorist attacks in the United States faced another night of confusion last night after they turned up at the airport to fly out only to be told the flights had been cancelled.

It meant another night in Island hotels for the hundreds of passengers who were diverted to the Island on Tuesday after the US closed its airspace in response to the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in New York and Pentagon in Washington.

Meanwhile, the family of Rhondelle Tankard, the missing Bermudian who worked at the destroyed World Trade Center for AON Insurance, faced another day of anxiety waiting for news of her fate.

There was a glimmer of hope last night when AON Corp, the parent company of the AON companies in Bermuda, issued a statement saying the vast majority of its 1,100 employees were safe, although no information was immediately available about Rhondelle, 31, from Somerset.

Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith said yesterday that security at the airport, which has been guarded by armed Police and Bermuda Regiment officers, would be scaled back once the grounded US-bound flights leave.

But Mr. Smith and acting airport operations manager Michael Osborn said there will be more stringent checks and searches of hand luggage now.

Mr. Osborn said the airport will be consulting with the British authorities about new procedures in light of the terrorist attacks.

There were mixed emotions at the airport last night as passengers on three of the five US-bound planes diverted to the Island on Tuesday turned up at the airport in the hope they would given permission to fly onto the US, but after waiting several hours, they were told they would not be taking off.

Some were angry at being delayed further while others were delighted to get the chance to spend more time in Bermuda.

The confusion arose after the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) announced in the afternoon that flights heading for America which had been diverted would be allowed in, although domestic flights remain grounded.

Airport authorities had scheduled provisional times for the grounded flights - Delta from Barcelona and Rome to Atlanta, Continental from Lisbon and San Juan to Newark, New Jersey, and American from Madrid to Miami - to take off.

It meant another night in Island hotels for the passengers, although those on the diverted British Airways London to Miami flight were able to leave Bermuda after the jet returned to the British capital last night.

Some passengers on the delayed American flight from Madrid to Miami were checked through Customs before being told they not be flying.

Diane Seifi, of Dallas, Texas, said: "The way they are handling this is stupid. It simply defies common sense.

"I'd rather have been known and been delayed in the first place than have to go through this. It's not the airline's fault, but we've been here since yesterday."

But Angel and Josephine Redilla, who were on the same flight and were eventually heading for Panama, were happy to spend another night in Bermuda.

Mrs Redilla said: "Its really bad news the flight's been cancelled. They said it's because the weather is bad in Miami and Nassau so we're staying tonight.

"We're staying Southampton Princess. Its so beautiful, we're glad to stay again. I like the Island because its so beautiful and clean and everyone's so nice."

But Monica Guindin, one of four honeymooners hoping to go to Miami for a few days before Costa Rica, said she was frustrated that her holiday was being ruined.

She said: "For us, the problem is we are not allowed to spend our time freely here. We've been pulled from the hotel and the airport since yesterday. The Island is beautiful, but we can't see it."Martin Gonzales, an Argentinian on the Madrid to Miami flight, said last night: "I am so angry I can barely speak. I just want to get home. I am trying to get to Argentina but I have to go to Miami first."Bobby Peniston, airport operations duty officer, said last night: "The flights are being cancelled because the FAA has not approved them. All the times were tentative and the FAA did not approve any."

When told the airlines had all been given provision take-off times by the airport last night which was why the passengers turned up to check-in, Mr. Peniston said he assumed the airlines had received new information from their companies in the US.

Passengers on the diverted Continental flights did not leave their hotels because they knew they would not be flying.

Some 220 passengers hoping to leave the Island on Delta flights to Atlanta were also turned around from the airport last night.