Veteran Ontario politician David Collenette was addressing an audience in Montreal when he was interrupted with news of the September 11 terrorist attacks, forcing him to make history-making decisions as federal minister of transport. He ordered 229 passenger jets bound for the US to land at Canadian airports, including Gander, where nearly 7,000 passengers were stranded and treated to a remarkable display of hospitality from locals. The event, held at Gander International Airport on the eve of the 25th anniversary, featured reflections from Collenette and other pilots who landed their planes in Gander, including Guy Gullick, who recalled being told "nothing happens here. You're safe." Just under 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, which had a profound impact on those affected by the crisis.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On October 8, 2024, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed, an event that has become a significant marker for young conservatives in America, akin to September 11, 2001 and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The day of his death is now referred to by some as 9/10, symbolizing its impact on political activism among students. Meanwhile, the small Canadian town of Gander played a pivotal role during the September 11 attacks when U.S. airspace was closed, leading to 38 international flights landing there, doubling the population overnight and necessitating an impromptu humanitarian effort by locals to aid around 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members for several days. This act of kindness inspired the Broadway musical "Come From Away," which highlights Gander's generosity and humanity in times of crisis.
Written for “9/11 Anniversary Reflections” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 167 other(s) covering the same event.
'Nothing happens here.
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Nothing → happen → ?
You're safe': 9/11 survivors, responders recall attack aftermath
Nearly 7,000 bewildered and scared passengers were stranded in Gander in the aftermath
David Collenette was addressing an audience in Montreal on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
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Collenette → recall → Sept.
He began noticing some unusual rumblings in the audience, and then an aide walked up to him while he was speaking and presented him with a blunt note: "Wind up your speech.
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he → begin → speech
Passenger jets had been hijacked and were slamming into the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and a field in Pennsylvania.
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jets → hijack → Pennsylvania
As he scrambled back to Ottawa, Collenette was forced to make decisions that will forever be remembered in aviation history, including ordering 229 passenger jets bound for the United States to land immediately at Canadian airports, including those in Gander, St. John's, Stephenville and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
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that → scramble → Gander
Then, he ordered everyone to remain on the planes for hours until officials could be sure there were no more security threats.
"
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officials → order → hours
I think we made the right decisions," Collenette said during an event at Gander International Airport Thursday evening called "Untold Stories — Reconnected."
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Collenette → think → Airport
Hundreds of people gathered there to hear Collenette and others reflect on their experiences of the Sept. 11 attacks on the eve of the 25th anniversary of one of the most defining and catastrophic events in modern history.
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Collenette → gather → history
Just under 3,000 people were killed.
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people → kill → ?
On that day, 38 commercial airliners touched down in Gander after North American airspace was closed in response to the attacks — delivering nearly 7,000 bewildered and scared passengers and crew to the central Newfoundland town, and effectively doubling Gander's population in a matter of hours.
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airspace → touch → hours
The sudden arrival sparked a humanitarian response by area towns that inspired the hit musical Come From Away, and forged a unique and lasting bond between the stranded passengers and those who cared for them.
Thursday night's guest speakers included three of the pilots who landed their planes in Gander.
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who → spark → Gander
One of them, Guy Gullick, was at the controls of US Airways Flight 3 from Rome to Philadelphia — the last plane to land in Gander that day.
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One → land → Gander
'What kindness, compassion and humanity looks like'
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kindness → look → What
After landing, Gullick wondered why there wasn't any security around the planes, an issue he raised when an airport employee boarded his jet.
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employee → wonder → jet
Gullick said he'll never forget the answer to a very serious question: "He said, 'nothing happens here.
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nothing → say → question
It set the tone for the next several days, as passengers and air crews say they were treated to a level of hospitality and support that shocked and heartened those whose travel plans were upended by the attacks.
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plans → set → attacks
Gullick made special mention of hospitality worker Susan Scharpegge, who worked long hours and "slept on the floor" at the hotel "while we had rooms.
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we → make → rooms
"
"You showed the world what kindness, compassion and humanity looks like," said Gullick.
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Gullick → show → what
"You're an example for the world, and the world needs that right now."
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world → need → that
Salvation Army officer Marlene George was among the responders and recalled encountering a worried and confused passenger.
George told the passenger that, "if you have to be stranded anywhere in the world, you landed in the right place."
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you → recall → place
She said area residents responded with "genuine love" to the so-called "plane people."
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residents → say → people
Striking school bus driver and Gambo resident, Frazer Lush, was among those who abandoned their picket lines to land a hand.
"
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who → strike → hand
It's about helping people who needed us," said Lush, who also helped clean schools that had become emergency shelters.
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that → help → schools
Collenette, meanwhile, recalled the urgency he faced that day, with a plane entering Canadian airspace every 90 seconds and worries that one, or more, of them may pose a threat.
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one → recall → threat
"We all had a job to do, and we reacted instinctively," he said.
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he → have → job
"Let's hope it doesn't happen again."
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it → let → ?
