Hundreds of passengers were stranded on late Saturday at the airport in Tunis, blocked from exit by a night-time curfew in a capital city full of unrest after the ouster of long-time President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali.
"The situation is very tense, no one may leave the airport," a soldier said.
Restaurants ran out of food, and long lines formed to buy up the last chips and cookies in the facility.
Little camps of travellers formed throughout the airport, where some tried to sleep on the floor using clothing as blankets. One family put a small child to bed in an open suitcase.
A dozen arriving aircraft were expected through the night-time hours.
Many Tunisians who returned home from abroad were worried about their families.
"I am shocked about what has happened in my country," said a 35-year-old man whose wife was waiting in vain for him to arrive at home.
"We are very worried about the way forward," he said.