Airline passengers were left stranded yesterday after gale force winds caused flight cancellations, diversions and delays.

Bermuda International Airport general manager James Howes said almost 300 passengers were affected, including 200 passengers on an inbound Delta Airlines flight and another 80, who were waiting for the outbound flight.

"I do not have the numbers of those on the Continental flights."

Mr. Howes said two planes were diverted and another flight would be be delayed until the early hours of this morning when winds were expected to subside.

Mr. Howes said the Delta flight from Atlanta, which was due in at 3.30 p.m., made several attempts to land.

"Delta flight 354 did attempt to land here and made a couple of approaches, but because of very high gale force winds exceeding 45 miles an hour it was diverted to Charleston, South Carolina.

"It will not operate until tomorrow and they are planning to use a larger plane to carry all the delayed passengers at once."

Mr. Howes added that the Continental flight 1927 from Newark, New Jersey, was also cancelled, which left passengers on the outgoing Continental flight 1924 stranded.

He said the American Airlines flight from JFK 1444, which was due to land at 10.10 p.m., would be late.

"We were informed by American that the flight will be at least two to three hours hours late due to these very strong winds.

"It is predicted that the strong winds were set to subside or moderate after midnight."

He said the weather should be a bit better today.

See also Weather, Page 24