Remembering 9/11: When Gander provided safe haven in a time of crisis
When U.S. airspace was closed on 9/11, grounding 38 international flights on Newfoundland, a small town's residents gave shelter and comfort to 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members – generosity that inspired the musical "Come From Away."
The small town of Gander on the island of Newfoundland found itself unexpectedly in the spotlight on September 11, 2001. As the nearest airport to Europe, Gander became an ideal landing spot for grounded flights following the terrorist attacks in the United States. Mayor Claude Elliott, who was in office at the time, recalled that by the end of the day, 38 planes had landed at Gander's airport, a situation for which they had no contingency plan.
Elliott declared a state of emergency and called for supplies, with churches and schools quickly becoming shelters. The local hockey rink was even put to use. The grateful passengers, referred to as the "plane people," were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the locals. Beulah Cooper, a resident of Gander, volunteered at the Royal Canadian Legion and hosted 67 passengers from an Aer Lingus flight, even inviting some to sleep and shower at her home.
Her selflessness inspired the musical "Come From Away," which premiered on Broadway in 2017 and has since gained global popularity, creating a new generation of musical theater enthusiasts and bringing increased tourism to Gander.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
