Operation Yellow Ribbon

diversion of Canadian civilian flights from US airspace after 9/11

Operation Yellow Ribbon was started by Canada to help with the diversion of civilian airline flights because of the September 11 attacks in 2001. It was to make sure that possible destructive air traffic was removed from the United States airspace as quickly as possible, and away from potential U.S. targets. Instead they placed the aircraft on the ground in Canada, mainly at military and civilian airports in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia (as well as some in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec). Canada began the operation after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (carried out by Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA)) had grounded all the aircraft across the United States. The FAA was then able to work with Transport Canada to reroute the incoming international flights to airports in Canada.[1]

The actual number of diverted aircraft and passengers varies from different sources. Transport Canada stated that over 33,000 passengers on 224 flights arrived in Canada, while NAV CANADA stated that there were 239 flights. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said that the number of flights was anywhere between 225 and 250 and that the number of passengers were between 30,000 and 45,000.

The data from NAV CANADA[2]
Airport Airport Code # of Planes
Halifax International Airport YHZ 47
Gander International Airport YQX 38
Vancouver International Airport YVR 34
St. John's International Airport YYT 21
Winnipeg International Airport YWG 15
Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ 14
Calgary International Airport YYC 13
Greater Moncton International Airport YQM 10
Montréal–Mirabel International Airport YMX 10
Stephenville International Airport YJT 8
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay YYR 7
Montréal-Dorval International Airport YUL 7
Edmonton International Airport YEG 6
Hamilton International Airport YHM 4
Whitehorse International Airport YXY 2
Deer Lake Airport YDF 1
Yellowknife Airport YZF 1
Total 238

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, President Barack Obama recalled Canada's help during that time, and he expressed his gratitude for Canada's friendship and solidarity.[3]

A Tony Award-winning musical titled Come from Away ran on Broadway from 2017 to October 2, 2022.[4] It focused on the town's residents, flight crew and passengers experiences during the event.[5]

References

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  1. Chase, Steven (September 12, 2001). "Canada rolls down security shutters". The Globe and Mail.
  2. "NAV CANADA and the 9/11 Crisis". NAV CANADA. 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  3. "9 September 2011: President Obama's Letter to Canada on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11". Embassy of the United States - Ottawa. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  4. "Broadway's Come From Away Plays Final Performance October 2". Playbill. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  5. "Come From Away Official Site". Come From Away. Retrieved July 7, 2024.

Other websites

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