Operation Yellow Ribbon

Aircraft already over U.S. soil were permitted to land at the nearest possible airport. However, those not yet inside U.S. airspace were not allowed entry—an obvious problem for aircraft already in the air. Those with enough fuel for a return journey were turned back, but almost 240 airplanes, carrying between 30,000 and 45,000 passengers, were past the point of no return. David Collenette, transport minister for Canada, ordered Canadian airspace to be shut down too, but he would allow airplanes bound for the United States to land on Canadian soil.

However, Canadian authorities did not want aircraft landing in Toronto, Montreal, or Ottawa because these already busy airports presented security concerns. Halifax International Airport accepted 47 airplanes, Vancouver International Airport accepted 34 aircraft, and Gander International Airport accepted 38 airplanes. And although eventually 17 Canadian airports would welcome stranded aircraft, Gander, Newfoundland, became the most well-known. Gander was a refueling stop for transatlantic flights during World War II, as it is the most easterly point in North America. Through the years following the war, the airport was used less and less, although it remained a critical emergency stopping point for transatlantic flights experiencing problems. It has two massive runways, one at 10,200 feet long, the other at 8,900 feet.

For five days the stranded passengers and crew lived in Gander with the residents, making friends and memories.The town of Gander is small, and at the time had fewer than 10,000 residents. However, the historic airport facilities could handle aircraft of all sizes. Gander Control, one of two air traffic control centers that guides aircraft over the North Atlantic, also could handle the coordination of the more than 200 aircraft with their 6,122 passengers and 473 crewmembers.

Gander residents opened their doors to the unexpected visitors, offering food, drink, and places to stay. Community centers and schools were turned into shelters, giving people places to sleep. Residents donated food and bedding. For five days the stranded passengers and crew lived in Gander with the residents, making friends and memories. Dubbed “Operation Yellow Ribbon,” the events of that time inspired a musical, Come From Away, produced in 2013. Operation Yellow Ribbon remains the largest emergency operation of civilian aircraft in history.

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