If you google “no fly list” and “stranded”, it appears that this does occur from time to time. In most cases, it seems that it’s resolved bureaucratically, but it takes time. If you’re a certain type of person (cough, brown skin, cough) the time it takes might be years or decades rather than days.
There are different types of no-fly list, though. If you get drunk and behave disruptively on a plane, the airline will likely ban you from flying with them, but you may be able to travel with a different airline. I would assume that in really extreme cases, the big carriers may share lists, but you might still be able to get home – not necessarily by the most direct route – by flying Air Buttscratchistan or something.
The US government’s ‘no-fly list’ is a different matter, and you don’t generally land on that for being an ass, but for something like terrorist associations, or having approximately the same name as someone on the list, or being too overtly critical of the government, or really pissing off a TSA agent, or … well, quite a lot of things, actually. But probably not just for getting into your duty-free before take-off and then groping the cabin crew.
Generally speaking, unless you make a sincere attempt to destroy the aircraft, bad behavior is more likely to get you on a specific airline’s list, rather than the global, government-maintained list. If you’re on the airline’s list, you may be able to go round it by flying a different airline. If you’re on the government’s list, your only options are either that tramp steamer you mentioned, or doing a lot of pleading with officials, something that will involve (a) lawyers, and (b) time, and © basically letting them pick over your entire life until they’re satisfied that you’re not actually a security threat.
