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Kind-hearted Thomas Cook passengers raised £5,000 for stricken airline staff during their final journey home.

Stephanie Kaye, 25, described how weeping staff were overwhelmed when Brits presented them with two carrier bags stuffed with cash.

Fellow passenger Tommy Laing posted on Facebook: "I’ve Just landed in Manchester from Vegas, was flying with Thomas cook, the staff told us mid flight that they’d just been told half way through the flight that we were on the last Thomas cook flight anywhere, they had just lost their jobs and would not be getting paid this month- they were all in tears!

"Soon as we landed a Scottish girl stands up- right folks I’m having a whip round get your money out £20 each! And if that’s not the most Scottish thing ever I don’t know what is was a joyful moment! Got £5000 apparently.

Stephanie, from Leeds said the 326 passengers were made aware of the companies fate by the pilot - who told them that staff wouldn't be getting paid for the journey mid-air.

She said: "When we got on the plane, the staff were really friendly and professional.

(Image: @stephkaye_/Twitter)

"One of the staff members made an announcement at the beginning of the journey to say they knew as much as we did, so please bear that in mind if you hear anything.



"And she said, if you're that way inclined, please say a little prayer for us and it got a bit emotional as everyone started clapping.



"Staff were so professional during the flight, they didn't mention it, but as soon as we landed, they got the news.



"At the end, the pilot came over on the tannoy and said 'That's the end of our dream.'



"And he mentioned how staff wouldn't be getting paid so he asked us to thank the rest of the crew.



"Then, everyone clapped again and staff were in tears and thanking the passengers for making it a nice flight.



"But towards the end of the journey, passengers had started a little collection but it ended being quite a big collection.



"Everyone was putting in their remaining dollars and I think there was two bags going around so it turned out to be a lot of the money.



"People were very generous, they were throwing in wads of dollars, it was two carriers bags worth of coins and notes.



"And it got handed over at the end of the flight and staff came over the tannoy, they thanked us again for the support, and said how overwhelmed they were.



"It was really emotional, passengers were crying. It's crazy that staff didn't know about it until landing."



The 25-year-old had driven from San Francisco to Las Vegas over two weeks with her partner Anouj Patel, 28 and arrived back at Manchester Airport this morning



She said: "You could not have faulted the staff, they were great.



"At the end of the flight, you could tell they were really emotional but they still thanked people for flying with them and wished them a good day."

Passengers on a separate Thomas Cook flight, from Orlando, also donated money after an on-flight whip round.

A touching video of the generous passengers shows them praising the now-bust company staff for their honorable behaviour and wishing them "good luck".

The passengers were lucky to have made their return flight after up to 150,000 Thomas Cook holiday makers have been left stranded abroad following the overnight collapse of the 178-year-old travel giant.

A staggering 22,000 jobs are now on the line, including 9,000 in the UK alone, after the company failed to secure a deal with creditors and shareholders that could plug a £250m gap in its finances.

Describing the emotional atmosphere on board the flight, one lucky couple returning from Orlando, Grant and Katie Speers, told Sky News: "It was emotional, staff didn't know what was happening until they landed.

"I take my hat off to them, the way they conducted themselves."

Rebecca Dooley, who was also on the flight, added: "I felt for the crew, but they were dignified."

Now-redundant Thomas Cook workers have taken to Twitter to share their despair at having lost their jobs.

One former Thomas Cook representative who also happened to be among the passengers being repatriated this evening took to the platform to say she has "been crying for staff and memories of times passed"."

Meanwhile, an axed Thomas Cook worker pledged to stand outside closed travel agents she used to work at in order to help affected customers.

Thomas Cook collapse is "karma" gloats EastEnders star Shane Richie

Kindhearted Lucy Beatrice said she was determined to help anyone affected by the travel company closure - despite losing her job herself.

The 23-year-old has said she would be at her branch from 9am as she admitted she was "devastated beyond words" in a heartbreaking tweet.

She said: "Officially unemployed. Devastated beyond words. Even after us ceasing trading, I will be at my branch at 9am to help my customers with any questions."