Gander, Newfoundland — a town of about 12,000 — became an unexpected haven on 9/11 when 38 diverted flights brought roughly 7,000 stranded passengers. Residents and officials declared a state of emergency and converted community spaces into shelters, providing food, transport and care. Volunteers like Beulah Cooper inspired the Tony-winning musical Come From Away, and the town preserves the memory with exhibits, memorials and ongoing community events.
How Gander Became a Lifeline on 9/11: The Town That Sheltered the "Plane People"
Thirty-eight international flights were grounded at Gander International Airport on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when U.S. airspace was shut down. / Credit: Rogers TV
Gander, Newfoundland — a remote town of roughly 12,000 — became an unexpected refuge on September 11, 2001, when 38 transatlantic flights were diverted there and about 7,000 passengers suddenly needed shelter, food and care.
Immediate Response
With no plan for hosting thousands of unexpected visitors, Mayor Claude Elliott declared a state of emergency and the community sprang into action. Churches, schools and the local hockey arena were converted into makeshift shelters. Residents stored truckloads of donated food on the arena ice to keep perishables cool and organized sleeping spaces, meals, and transportation across the town.
Shelter was given to 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members in schools, churches, and private homes in Gander.
"We have an emergency plan, every municipality has it. But there's nothing in that plan to tell you what to do with 7,000 people if they decide to drop in for four or five days." — Claude Elliott
Everyday Heroes
Locals called the stranded travellers the "plane people." Volunteers like Beulah Cooper worked at the Royal Canadian Legion, which housed 67 passengers from an Aer Lingus flight. She ferried people to pay phones, handed out sandwiches and opened her home for showers and rest. "It does so good in here," she said, tapping her chest, "to know that you're doing something to help somebody."
From Community Care to Global Story
The acts of kindness inspired the musical Come From Away, which premiered on Broadway in 2017, won Tony recognition, and toured internationally. Mayor Elliott—who admitted he had never been to a musical—has since seen the show more than 100 times. This summer the production returned home to Gander with a primarily Newfoundland cast, adding local authenticity to the story.
Scenes from a production of
Legacy and Remembrance
Gander has preserved the memory of those days with museum exhibits displaying thank-you notes from passengers and other memorabilia. Metal beams from the World Trade Center were sent to the town as memorial elements. The Royal Canadian Legion still hosts "screech-ins," a lighthearted ritual featured in the musical that welcomes visitors as honorary Newfoundlanders.
Why it matters: The Gander story is often framed as a "9/12" narrative—less about the tragedy itself than the immediate compassion and practical help that followed. It remains a striking example of how ordinary people can mobilize to meet extraordinary need.
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