Gander, Newfoundland, sheltered thousands after 9/11
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On September 11, 2001, the town of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, welcomed nearly 7,000 passengers from 38 planes diverted after the United States closed its airspace.
Following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights, sending aircraft to nearby Canadian towns. The people of Gander, a community of 8,000, immediately mobilized to provide food, shelter, and comfort to the stranded travelers.
Mayor Claude Elliott asked residents for blankets, pillows, and cots, accepting that these items might not be returned, because helping those in need was the priority. Passengers found themselves sleeping in classrooms, receiving free prescriptions from pharmacies, and making calls home using donated phone access. Beyond immediate needs, the community fostered connections with the passengers. One traveler, Sue Riccardelli, described the experience as life-changing, noting the kindness and generosity she and her wife received.
In the years since, passengers established a scholarship fund for Gander students, raising over $1 million, and the town built a memorial park with a piece of steel from the Twin Towers to honor those lost and the helpers of 9/11.
