On Sept. 11, 2001, 39 commercial aircraft converged on Gander in the hours following the terrorist attacks in the United States. In total, 6700 passengers and crew were stranded for nearly a week in Gander and surrounding communities. Below are daily updates posted as the story unfolded.

Sept. 11, 2001 - Aircraft in flight over the North Atlantic Ocean this morning were diverted to airports in Eastern Canada in the wake of air-related terrorist attacks on targets in the United States. At Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, some 40 commercial aircraft filled the parking apron and lined taxiways as Canadian military and RCMP personnel inspected the planes. Arrangements are underway to house up to 10,000 passengers at Gander overnight.



Sept. 12, 2001 - Officials continue to screen and release passengers from aircraft grounded at Gander International Airport. By mid-morning, more than 30 flights had been processed. Relief effort co-ordinators have been swamped with calls from individuals and businesses offering contributions of food, facilities, bedding and volunteer labour as needed. Municipal council and staff, churches and other community groups provided accommodations and services for stranded passengers throughout the community and region.


Left: NewTel Communications, the local telephone service provider, set up banks of phones in its parking lot to help stranded passengers contact and locate family and friends.

Right: A forklift sits idle as an army of eager volunteers whisks supplies into the Gander Community Centre, which has become the main distribution point for shelters throughout the region.

Sept. 13, 2001 - Relief efforts continue throughout the region. Donations of food, clothing, bedding and personal items continue pouring in at the Gander Community Centre, the main distribution point, and many passengers assigned to shelters at schools, church halls and public buildings have been taken into private homes throughout the community. Overwhelmed by the care and concern of area residents, stranded passengers have begun collecting cash donations for local charities.



Spirits were high as word spread that air traffic would resume today, but further complications in the U.S. have once again put flights on hold. Two aircraft did leave Gander today, but only to return to their points of origin in Europe.


Sept. 14, 2001 - Even heavy rain could not dampen spirits as U.S. airports re-opened to international traffic. By mid-afternoon, a total of 11 commerical and 5 military aircraft had left Gander, albeit under stringent security. Best estimates suggest the remaining 23 flights could be cleared by late Sunday.

Top: Aircraft are flying once more, to the relief of some 7,000 transatlantic passengers stranded at Gander since Tuesday.

Left: A huge American flag flies at half-staff at the Salvation Army Citadel in Gander.