There was a segment done on one of the news magazine shows (don’t remember which one) about the planes coming in over the Atlantic that were detoured to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 and how the local town folks all came together to care for the passengers, making food, opening up their homes, etc., until they were allowed to leave several days later. The scenes showing the jets lined up along the runway were amazing (I’m thinking there were 40-50+?...don’t remember for sure.) It was a beautiful testament to the honor and decency of a great people - the Newfoundlanders (of which I’m proud to say I am one on my mother’s side) - and the way they opened up - not just their homes, churches and community centers, but especially their hearts in love and support for all affected by what happened that day.
The Gander airport was featured on the History Channel show.
I hope they show it again - the air traffic controllers were fantastic. After 9/11 the FAA determined that ‘new procedures’ for a similar crisis would be too complex - that by allowing the professionals to make split-second decisions (as they were called to do on 9/11) was more efficient - much like battle-ground instincts.
The term *flying by the seat of their pants* gained new respect.