How Canada’s Gander hosted 7,000 passengers and crew after US airspace closure
In the Canadian town of Gander on the island of Newfoundland, 38 international aircraft landed on September 11, 2001, after US airspace was closed. Local residents provided shelter to about 7,000 passengers and crew members who could not continue their journeys, CBS News World reports.
Emergency situation in Gander
Former Gander mayor Claude Elliott said the town had no plan for the arrival of so many people for four or five days. That day, he declared a state of emergency, after which residents began collecting necessary supplies.
Schools and churches were turned into temporary shelters, while some people were accommodated in private homes. The local hockey arena was used to store food: trucks carrying supplies were unloaded onto the ice surface, which served as a refrigerator.
Residents called the unexpected guests “people from the planes.” Volunteer Beulah Cooper helped 67 people from an Aer Lingus flight who were accommodated in the Royal Canadian Legion building. She brought them sandwiches, drove passengers to public phones in town, and invited some to stay overnight and use the shower at her home.
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A story that became a musical
The events in Gander inspired the creators of the musical “Come From Away,” which premiered on Broadway in 2017. The production tells how the town united to help people who ended up there because air travel was suspended. The musical won a Tony Award and toured in various countries.
During the summer months, a professional production of “Come From Away” was staged at Gander’s local arts center. The role of Mayor Claude is played by actor Peter Halley from St. John’s. According to him, it is the only production in which Newfoundland characters are played by actors from Newfoundland.
Remembering September 11
Gander’s aviation museum has an exhibition dedicated to the days after September 11, 2001, including thank-you notes from passengers. Metal beams from the Twin Towers were also donated to the town. The title of the musical, “Come From Away,” comes from a local expression used in Newfoundland for guests who have arrived from other places.
