The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

On September 11, 2001, 38 jetliners were diverted to Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada, after U.S. airspace closed. The town's population swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000 as thousands of passengers landed, exhausted and distressed after spending nearly 24 hours on board during security checks. The residents of Gander responded with immediate assistance. Townspeople prepared feasts for the arriving passengers. Local bus drivers, who had been on strike, left the picket lines to transport passengers to shelters set up in schools and churches. Residents donated linens and toiletries, while a middle school provided showers and access to computers, email, and televisions so passengers could contact family and follow news of the attacks. Over four days, many passengers formed friendships with Gander residents. In gratitude, scholarship funds were established for Gander's children, and donations provided new computers for local schools. This account documents how the town's acts of kindness touched thousands of lives and served as an example of community compassion and goodwill during a time of crisis.