down on the runway in America.

Yesterday, 170 US Airways passengers were left behind in Philadelphia after the plane experienced electronic difficulties -- suspending the daily service indefinitely.

And people due to leave Bermuda for Philadelphia were also hit by the difficulty.

Last night the company was frantically trying to find a way of getting hundreds of passengers to the Island.

Their problems were compounded as other airlines serving Bermuda were full and a replacement aircraft could not be found.

The company also had problems finding space on their three other Bermuda/US flights for residents and holidaymakers due to fly overseas.

Some vacationers, who were due to arrive today, were told to return to the airport on Friday.

Last night it was not known how many passengers were stranded in Bermuda.

No-one from the airline could be reached locally for comment.

But a friend of two holidaymakers due on the morning flight complained that they were "cut adrift'' by US Airways after disembarking the plane.

The Boeing 757 was fully loaded when it experienced electronic troubles. Staff discussed whether or not the flight should go ahead, and eventually everyone was asked to leave.

The plane was flown to the US Airways heavy maintenance depot in Charlotte and is expected to be out of service for some time.

USAirways spokesman Rick Weintraub said a replacement plane could not be found and other airlines, and connections from Philadelphia, were not available.

"We don't know when service will be resumed,'' he said. "But everybody in Philadelphia is focusing their efforts on this issue.''