On September 11, 2001 the United States grounded all planes in its airspace and locked down its borders after the Twin Towers and Pentagon were struck in a terrorist attack. This unprecedented move caused the 4,546 aircraft in US airspace to scramble for a place to land, but even more difficult was what to do with the 400 incoming international flights. Most were coming from Europe across the Atlantic. What to do with them? Those that had not yet hit the halfway point, could turn around (not an easy task in itself), but the others had to find a place to land in Canada. And Canada accepted them all, despite the suspicions of US and Canadian officials that there were more terrorists on some of those flights.

The tiny town of Gander was home to an international airport with a long runway, legacy of World War II and pre-747 airplanes. Thirty-eight planes carrying 6,595 crew and passengers would land in Gander and spend the next six days in this town of less than 10,000 people. This book is about who some of those "plane people" were and how they were welcomed and cared for in this tight-knit community. Some of the issues that the townspeople faced were: how to deal with nicotine-deprived passengers before they could deplane, how to get fill prescriptions for people from dozens of different countries (passengers were never allowed access to checked baggage due to security), what to do with the animals flying in the cargo hold, including two very rare bonobos monkeys, how to provide kosher food for three Orthodox Jews in a town with no Jewish community, what to do with all the children, etc., etc.

I devoured in one sitting this book about a feel-good moment amidst the horrors of 9/11 and its aftermath. The stories were heartwarming, and the logistics were fascinating. The book only mentions in the afterward some of the negative issues surrounding the people and the effects of the attention paid to Gander after the book (and subsequent musical and documentary). It's focus is definitely on the overall positives, but I was okay with that. So many books about 9/11 have focused on the heartbreak, it was nice to read something uplifting. ( )

audio nonfiction/history (~6.5 hrs) - remarkable portrait of humanity shown through vignettes of passengers and flight crew in the redirected flights on 9/11, and the incredibly kind and generous reception they received from the small town of Gander (and Newfoundlanders in general). A riveting way to pass the time, and yes you may want to keep tissues handy. ( )

This is NOT a book about the tragic events of September 11.

This IS a book about what happened that day and the days that followed those events. The book only touches briefly on 9/11, but mainly focuses on the planes diverted to and landing in Gander, Newfoundland. The stories of these people are complex, interesting and diverse. We have a family who adopted a little girl and were trying to get back home, a Hugo Boss executive who would NEVER sleep on the floor but did during his time in Gander, parents of a NYC firefighter awaiting word as to whether or not he is alive, and several animals.

It tells about how the stranded flights were not allowed to disembark right away and how some of the flight attendants gave carte blanche to the beverage carts on the planes while waiting days before they could leave the planes.

Most importantly, it tells the stories of all the townspeople of Gander, Newfoundland and how they embraced these newly-stranded and very scared people (dubbed the "plane people") by opening up their homes and their hearts to them, offering them the use of their shower, kitchen and homes. They donated towels and toiletries and offered to bring them to a store to buy new clothes because the luggage was still on the planes.

Definitely a MUST read. ( )


This is the remarkable true story of 9/11 when over 6,000 people found themselves stranded in Gander, Newfoundland when their planes were diverted from landing in the United States due to the terrorists' attacks. Gander was one of the Canadian towns that opened their hearts and homes to those stranded far from their destinations with news of the horror etched in their minds.

Jim Defede heightens the poignancy when he relates some of the individual stories of the people who found themselves in Gander and the stories of those who made them feel safe and welcome. The kindness and generosity of the citizens of Gander and other small towns provided solace and comfort in numerous ways.

If anyone ever doubts that there are so many people with a generosity of spirit, this is a long-lasting reminder. It is incredibly moving to read this small book and to then remember the way we all honored the horrors of 9/11 in the days following by our kindnesses to each other. ( )

Wonderful true story about some wonderful people doing wonderful things during a horrible tragedy. ( )