Gander Helps Stranded Passengers Again, 25 Years After 9/11

When bad weather forced an Air Canada flight to land unexpectedly in Gander, Newfoundland last week, passengers had no idea they'd just touched down in one of the kindest towns on Earth.

The flight from Montreal to St. Johns was grounded due to freezing rain, leaving 150 to 200 travelers stuck on the tarmac for over an hour. With only a handful of taxis available, the situation looked grim.

That's when the assistant manager of Quality Hotel and Suites posted a simple call for help on the Gander Connect Facebook page. Within minutes, locals started showing up at the airport in their personal cars.

"Locals were coming in their cars and in the taxis that weren't being used to come and shuttle us to the hotel," passenger Monet told VOCM. "It was like experiencing Come From Away all over again."

She was referring to Gander's legendary response on September 11, 2001, when dozens of international flights were grounded following the terrorist attacks. Back then, residents opened their homes, hotels, and hearts to thousands of stranded travelers. The story became so famous it inspired the hit Broadway musical Come From Away.

But here's the best part. The next morning, passengers needed rides back to the airport to catch their rescheduled flight. Before they could even finish breakfast, lines of volunteer drivers were already waiting outside the hotels.

Why This Inspires

Twenty five years is a long time. Most communities would have moved on, content to rest on past laurels. But Gander's residents didn't just remember their reputation for kindness. They showed up to earn it all over again.

The volunteers didn't organize fundraisers or make elaborate plans. They simply saw neighbors in need and grabbed their car keys. No hesitation, no second thoughts.

"It's nice to know that the heart of the community is the same," Monet said. Her words capture something powerful about what happens when helping others becomes part of who you are, not just something you did once.

Gander proves that kindness can become a legacy worth protecting. When you build a reputation for showing up, you create something that outlasts any single moment. You create a culture.

These stranded passengers expected frustration and delay, but they got something better: a reminder that small towns with big hearts still exist, and they're still showing up when it matters most.