Thomas Cook cabin crew were in tears as the travel firm's final ever flight touched down at Manchester Airport on Monday morning.
Flight TCX2643 from Orlando was the company's final scheduled flight to land back in the UK - bringing 178 years of holiday-making to an abrupt end.
The plane left Florida at 7.31pm local time and was in the air as the firm announced it was to cease trading.
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority said the tour operator had "ceased trading with immediate effect" - putting more than 21,000 jobs at risk.
It was a moving journey for all on board the final flight, as cabin crew shared their happy memories with the airline, but also shed tears.
As it touched down at 8.30am, the staff's fears of not having jobs when they landed were confirmed.
Elizabeth Evans, who was on the flight with husband Chris, both from Bury, said: "It's a sad day, they've just landed and found out they've got no jobs.
"The pilot... he just kept thanking the staff and the lead hostess thanked the pilot.
"It's a sad day for them.
"It was sad to see them crying, staff, as we were getting off. One of the staff has done 22 years, now it's come to this.
"It's rubbish that it's gone bust."
Karen Connolly, who was with her partner Alan Cowling and son Jamie Cowling, all from Wolverhampton said they were 'lucky' as they didn't think they would get back to the UK.
Karen said: "There was only one lady on the plane, she was really tearful, but all the staff were really professional considering they probably won't get paid.
"When we went to take off the captain did mention things, that they didn't know what was happening, they would have to find out in the morning.
"We could tell by the people crying on the plane, the staff. They are still crying in the terminal, hugging each other."
Lucy Kell, with husband Gavin and daughters Emily, aged eight and Annabelle, aged six, from Hartlepool, who were also on the Thomas Cook flight, added: "The staff were absolutely amazing. They still did all the things they were supposed to do.
"We took off at quarter past seven, it was all the way through the flight and they were waiting obviously until we landed, they found out.
"It was emotional for all the guests as well. I'm glad to be home, we are very lucky. It's sad, very sad, a big company like that.
"Everyone in England has probably flown Thomas Cook."
Thomas Cook travellers also arrived home to chaotic scenes at Manchester Airport with the bomb squad carrying out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package found at the airport train station.
The closure of the station led to long queues for taxis and gridlocked roads around the terminal building.
The firm's collapse has prompted the UK's biggest ever peacetime repatriation to bring 150,000 stranded customers home, with around 9,000 staff in the UK facing redundancy.
It is believed around 5,000 Thomas Cook holidaymakers were due to take off from Manchester Airport on Monday but all flights out have been cancelled, and the firm's normally busy check-in desks in Terminal One were deserted.
