On 11 September, 2001, a small Canadian town called Gander became a haven for thousands of airline passengers and crew stranded after the 9/11 terror attacks.
The attacks on the World Trade Center had forced the closure of US airspace leaving many flights unable to land. Within hours, 38 planes with 7,000 passengers, had been diverted to Gander, effectively doubling the town's population. But what happened next showcased the extraordinary kindness and generosity of the Newfoundlanders.
For five days, local residents provided beds, food, medicine and clothing for those stranded during the crisis, and didn’t ask for a cent. They even put on music evenings, barbecues and canoe trips to keep their visitors entertained.
Beverley Bass, one of the plane captains, tells Jane Wilkinson about Gander’s extraordinary hospitality during one of the most traumatic events in modern history.
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(Photo: Passengers and crew at Gander airfield, 2001. Credit: Town of Gander)
