In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the US closed its airspace at 9:45 AM ET to prevent any more attacks on skyscrapers across the country because the extent of the attacks wasn't known at the time.
That was a major problem for the aircraft traversing the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific air routes from Europe and Asia at the time. 239 planes with over 35,000 passengers had to divert to Canadian airports and stay there indefinitely in the wake of the closure of US airspace.
Canada closed its airspace as well with then Transport Minister David Collinette ordering Canadian airports be opened only for outgoing military, humanitarian and police flights and incoming Canadian and US bound international flights. NAV CANADA was given permission to allow flights to land at Canadian airports based on destination and remaining fuel that were more than halfway from their origination points.
The Atlantic Canada airports got the bulk of the flights and in coordination with the US Federal Aviation Administration and NORAD Operation Yellow Ribbon was initiated.
Planes landed at CFB Goose Bay, Halifax, Moncton, St. John's and Stephenville airports as well with 34 trans-Pacific ones landing at Vancouver.
Gander, NL. got many of the Atlantic airbridge diversions because it's the first of the Atlantic Canada airports that planes traversing the trans-Atlantic air routes to US airports from Europe encounter.
Despite the town's size, Gander International Airport was well suited to handle the task because it had been a major airbase during World War II. It not only served as a refueling stop for airplanes being shuttled to the European theater and transatlantic flights, the airport was the jumping off point for U-boat hunting flights
The town of 10,000 people suddenly found itself dealing with 39 widebody aircraft with 6,600 stranded passengers and 473 crewmembers aboard them and only 500 hotel rooms in town.
The residents of Gander and the surrounding towns opened their schools, churches, homes and hearts to stranded travelers as local businesses donated supplies to help the effort until flights resumed on September 15.
Besides the Atlantic Canada airports such as Gander serving as diversionary destinations and Vancouver International serving in a similar capacity for the trans-Pacific flights, planes were diverted to other Canadian airports such as Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montreal-Mirabel, Toronto Pearson, and Hamilton.
But it was a stressful exercise at times. Operation Yellow Ribbon not only had to determine where to land the planes, but coordinate efforts between Transport Canada, the FAA and NORAD. They also had to coordinate the efforts of Canadian customs officials, police, security, intelligence, relief and military efforts in terms of clearing the unexpected spike in passengers . There were several incidents in which airplanes were escorted to various airports by US and Canadian Armed Forces fighters..
This occurred in the backdrop of the frosty relationship between President G.W.Bush and Prime Minister Jean Chretien before 9/11. Chretien had a warm relationship with President Clinton and wanted to see Vice President Al Gore win the 2000 election. There was an added layer of testiness because Bush broke a longstanding tradition and made his first international presidential visit outside of the US to Mexico instead of Canada which was seen as a snub.
Gasoline was poured on that testy relationship when Bush mentioned other nations by name in thanking them for post-9/11 help but failed to mention the then ongoing efforts of our northern neighbors in a September 14th joint speech to Congress.
But on this 9/11 tenth anniversary the Obama White House didn't forget, and neither did the
US Embassy in Ottawa. This was a letter sent from President Obama on Thursday to Prime Minister Harper.
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
It has often been said
that the United States and Canada are great neighbors, trading partners
and the best of friends. Friendship gives us comfort and it gives us
strength, but can be tested in difficult times. In one of the darkest
moments in our history, Canada stood by our side and showed itself to be
a true friend.
On the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we
remember with gratitude and affection how the people of Canada offered
us the comfort of friendship and extraordinary assistance that day and
in the following days by opening their airports, homes and hearts to us.
As airspace over our two countries was shut down, hundreds of flights
en route to the United States were landed safely by Canadian air traffic
control in seventeen Canadian airports from coast to coast. The small
city of Gander, Newfoundland, population 9,600, received 6,600 diverted
passengers, while Vancouver received 8,500 people. For the next 3 days —
before our air space was reopened — those displaced passengers were
treated like family in Canadian homes, receiving food, shelter, medical
attention and comfort.
Ten years later, we continue to be grateful
for Canada's friendship, and for the solidarity you continue to show us
in our shared fight against terrorism. The United States is fortunate
to share a border with a country that understands, in your words, "There
is no such thing as a threat to the national security of the United
States which does not represent a direct threat to this country."
On
this anniversary, we recognize all the gestures of friendship and
solidarity shown to us by Canada and its people, and give thanks for our
continuing special relationship.
Sincerely
Signed Barack Obama
It also bears repeating that 22 Canadians were among the 3000 people who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. It's also often said by politicians on both sides of our long shared border that we have a special relationship between the United States and Canada. Our Canadian neighbors proved that and then some in the wake of 9/11.
Thank you, Canada.
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15 years ago today an Al Qaeda terror attack that used hijacked planes to slam into the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington DC and another that was planned to either slam into the White House or the US capitol building.
There are times I think about what happened to these two inseparable friends. I wonder what depraved soul would have so much hate in their heart for Stephanie and Ukea that they made the heinous effort to terminate their lives.
