An incredible story most often overlooked was the role of Gander ATC in the 9/11 story. Fortunately distances in Gander are not great for the duty controllers were suddenly faced with landing 220 aircraft that were too far along to turn back. They were told if possible to avoid Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa (I suppose someone in Central Canada thinking they were valuable).
The crew immediately called in the off duty controllers and the team reorganized the North Atlantic air traffic in quick time. They had to match the aircraft with comparable runways and available space.It was an incredible feat performed in a couple of hours even landing 38 on their home turf.

Also another interest historical fact is that Newfoundland didn't enter Confederation until 1949.

There are probably friendlier people on the planet than the Newfies but I have not yet found any. There are beautiful unblemished areas of the province where you will always be welcomed by the residents. There are few areas more beautiful than the water approach into Cornerbrook. For a great maritime experience fly to Halifax, see Cape Breton and then ferry to Newfoundland and drive to St John's.

On September 11th planes were also diverted to St. John’s & Stephenville Newfoundland, don’t take this the wrong way Gander and the surrounding communities done an absolute great job that day and days to follow on taking on the task to comfort the stranded passengers on such a horrific incident but I never ever hear about the other communities in the province that the planes had landed I do know from stories I have read that those passengers have returned to Stephenville and St.johns years later and have made everlasting friendships to the people of the island great job to all who have been there for all those people

1958, a KLM all Economy Super Constellation from Amsterdam via Shannon and Gander to Idlewild (JFK) shut engine #3 down over the Atlantic. Landed Gander were invited into the terminal, a converted hanger for a coffee shop breakfast. Assumed KLM would ferry an aircraft in for us.
Nope! We were in Gander for the day as the engine would be changed while we waited. Bunks were available in one of the desolate WW-2 barracks named MARS, travel movie and ice cream would be provided for afternoon entertainment and meals in the coffeeshop. These meals were better than in the air as only sandwiches for food (The Sandwich War).
This traveler spent several memorable hours in the control tower, observed the KLM test flight with the new engine. Reboarded, another 90 minute delay, engine needed tweaking, took off around 9 PM and this traveler had what he considered a very fine day. O,Yes also KLM provide Hotel rooms at Idlewild if needed.

In the "olden" days ferrying from Europe to the USA, it was either the goose or the gander.

Gander was an RAF Ferry Command station from 1941-1943. During WWII, some 9000+ aircraft out of manufacturing plants in the US were flown to Dorval Airport (nr Montreal) and from there to Gander, Newfoundland, the last stopover before making the transatlantic flight to England.

On the west coast of NL the small town of Stepenville has a massive Cold War era AFB, Harmon AFB. . It was turned over to Newfoundland in the 60’s. Now lightly used, many 911 aircraft landed here and were hosted by the local people.

Picture #16 in the first set, showing an Aeroflot jet... more Russians defected at Gander than you would guess. The flights would be headed to Cuba, and stop for refueling. After a while, an RCMP officer would be stationed at the airport when these jets landed, just for the purpose of receiving the defectors.

Canada is forever in debt for the community banding together on 9/11 as they put up over 7000 passengers ,and billeted them out into their homes local schools , without the aid of modern hotels or an upgraded airport , so why not go to Gander well its all new modern airport and new 3 hotels can now handle any issue thrown at them , I as an avid follower hope Airlines start and us gander for a stop over to fuel planes which will boost their economy . Well done Gander .

Whitehorse, Yukon and Halifax, Nova Scotia also handled a number of diverted 9-11 flights, as did several other Canadian airports.

Aeroflot had regular service to New York then as now. The issue of landing in Gander was more that some Russian aircraft of the era didn't have the range. Most of the Gander traffic also stopped in Shannon, Ireland.

"During the Cold War, USSR airplanes couldn't land in North America and headed to Canada instead". Perhaps someone should send CNN an atlas.

Stopped to refuel there on a Laker Airways DC10 back in the 1990's coming home to London from Miami. We were allowed to disembark to have some of their wonderful ice cream at 2.30am on a June morning, it was quite surreal. Always remembered the clocks on the wall.

Quite a story, Love it.

My father was stationed there in WWII.

I was on a DC6B that made a landing in pea soup fog at Gander in June of 1966. It was in the middle of the night and I was 13 years old so it was quite the adventure for me since it took more than one attempt. We had dinner and had to wait for 4 hours for mechanical work to be completed before proceeding to the next fuel stop in Keflavik. Great memories!

YEah, what a lovely place.. well not really. Planes DO still land there to fuel. I took a flight from Europe to Newark on a 757 once. The plane had a severe headwind and couldn't make it with the fuel on board so we had to land in Gander. What a desolate place. This was mid winter. Lost my connection ofcourse. They shouldn't fly the 757 on that route.

If it wasnt Gander it was Thule landing out C141 neither were pleasant in the middle of winter

Gander is still used as an ETOPs alternate airport, for twin engine transatlantic flights, nearly every night. Too bad they cannot receive some money from the airlines that benefit from it being there every night for them.

I can't imagine not knowing where Gander is - even if you've not been there?!? Aviation enthusiast/pilot or not!!! WOW .... naive people .... ??? I mean I've never been to Tokyo or Easter Island or Nairobi or Keokuk, Iowa or the Kamchatka Peninsula but I certainly know where they are!

This is why the world is spiraling down to oblivion. That said Newfies are among the nicest people in the world!

My first stop in Gander was in a Piper Navajo in 1976 on the way to Greenland, Iceland and Scotland and ultimately, Saudi Arabia. Stopped there later in a DC-8, Learjet, and 757 returning from Barcelona. Gander’s heyday was the 40s-late 50s but it is still a reassuring port in the storm for anyone crossing the Atlantic.

Gander has a rich history also from WW2 click on the link. https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/gander-base.php