Qantas passengers stranded as planes are grounded - in pictures

Qantas Airways personnel talk with passengers at Los Angeles international airport Photograph: Danny Moloshok/Reuters

Qantas jets are grounded at the Qantas domestic terminal in Sydney, Australia Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Beds are prepared for stranded Qantas passengers inside the ballroom of Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Stranded Qantas passengers wait in front of Qantas check-in counters as they seek alternative travel arrangements at Singapore's Changi airport Photograph: Tim Chong/Reuters

A woman reads her book at the check-in line of a Johannesburg-bound Qantas flight at Perth international airport Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Idle Qantas planes are reflected in a window at Sydney airport Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

Passengers at the Qantas check-in in Melbourne, Australia Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Electronic screens display cancelled Qantas flights as security officers look on in Los Angeles Photograph: Jason Redmond/Reuters

Stranded passengers wait at the Qantas counter for information after their flight to Sydney was cancelled at Hong Kong international airport Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

Qantas planes sit grounded on the tarmac at Heathrow airport Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

A stranded Qantas passenger waits for assistance at Hong Kong international airport Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

A boy dressed as superman walks between travellers waiting to check in for Qantas flights at Hong Kong's international airport Photograph: Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images