Gander after 9/11: what happened and why it still matters

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks closed U.S. airspace, 38 passenger jets landed in Gander, N.L., a town of fewer than 10,000 people, and residents housed and fed nearly 7,000 stranded travellers for days. On Sept. 11, 2026, Gander marked the 25th anniversary with a ceremony that drew the Governor General, a U.S. ambassador and Jean Chrétien.

What happened in Gander on Sept. 11, 2001?

When the United States shut its airspace after the hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, flights already over the Atlantic had to land somewhere else. Transport Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon steered more than 200 of them to Canadian airports, The Globe and Mail reported.

Gander took 38. The airport was built as a transatlantic refuelling stop and is still a recognized emergency diversion field, but few pilots ever land there. Retired American Airlines captain Beverley Bass, who flew one of the diverted jets, told Global News her crew expected Toronto or Montreal and spent about 28 hours on the plane before passengers could get off.

The town and nearby communities such as Appleton opened schools, churches, legion halls and private homes. Volunteers cooked through the night so tables of food were waiting when passengers stepped off the planes, and many travellers stayed for several days until flights resumed.

Why does the Gander story still matter 25 years later?

The friendships outlasted the emergency. Many passengers, known locally as “come from aways,” have returned for anniversaries, and some stay with the same families who took them in. The story reached a global audience through the musical Come From Away, which opened on Broadway in 2017.

The 25th anniversary also arrived at a tense moment for Canada and the United States. U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and talk in Washington of Canada as a “51st state” have strained the relationship, and Gander’s decision to invite U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra drew a petition demanding his removal that passed 266,000 signatures, as we reported before the ceremony. Mayor Percy Farwell defended the invitation, saying the humanity of 2001 rises above politics, The Canadian Press reported.

What happened at the 25th anniversary ceremony?

The ceremony was held Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at the town’s arena. Gander’s hotels were close to fully booked for the week, and the program included Newfoundland performers the Ennis Sisters and Alan Doyle.

Governor General Louise Arbour spoke about the long friendship between the two countries, from two world wars to help during natural disasters, without addressing current trade tensions. Hoekstra thanked Gander residents for their generosity in 2001 and Canada for its partnership, including in Afghanistan. In an interview in Gander that day, he said the U.S. needs its allies to confront terrorist threats.

Chrétien, who was prime minister in 2001, gave the closing address. He told the crowd Canadians are generous but should not mistake kindness for weakness, saying Canada “bows to no one,” The Globe and Mail reported. He drew a standing ovation. Hoekstra later declined to comment on the speech and called the ceremony “wonderful.”

How did the rest of Canada respond in 2001?

Gander was one of many landing spots. Halifax, Vancouver, Moncton and other airports took diverted flights, and on Sept. 14, 2001, about 100,000 people filled Parliament Hill for a national day of mourning, the largest vigil in Canadian history.

Frequently asked questions

How many planes landed in Gander on 9/11?

Thirty-eight passenger planes landed at Gander International Airport after U.S. airspace closed on Sept. 11, 2001.

How many people were stranded in Gander?

Nearly 7,000 passengers and crew, in a town of about 9,500 people.

What is Operation Yellow Ribbon?

It was Canada’s operation to land flights diverted from U.S. airspace on Sept. 11, 2001. More than 200 flights landed at Canadian airports.

Is Come From Away a true story?

Yes. The musical is based on what happened in Gander and nearby towns when the diverted flights landed, and on interviews with residents and passengers.

When was the 25th anniversary ceremony in Gander?

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Speakers included Governor General Louise Arbour, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and former prime minister Jean Chrétien.

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