BRITISH REACTION Operation Yellow Tree Canada on 9-11 PART1 

I was one of the “plane people” that day, my flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta was diverted to Halifax. We sat on the runway until 10:30 that night, and were sent to a suburban high school. The hospitality that was shown to us was amazing. I remember at the time thinking it was so surreal, a tragedy was going on back at home and I am the recipient of this wonderful generosity.

The US and Canada are partners and will always have each other's backs. We love our Canadian neighbors and everything Gander did for all of the US flights that had to be diverted. The small area of Gander and its people helped the US so much when we were in such trouble. We love our northern best friend. Great video to react to. Not many people know this story. We love Canada!

The sad part of this documentary is 1) they don't mention the 4th plane that the passengers took matters in their own hands and forced the plane to crash land in a field in Pennsylvania (supposedly on its way to crash into the White House in Washington DC) heroes that knew they were going to die, but managed to take over from the hijackers ... 2) they don't mention the Veterinarians that took care of all the animals also travelling in the luggage compartment. They took all the animals and brought them all to shelters to feed them and ensure they were medically OK, until it was time to leave. All at no cost. Also, many Canadians went down to New York to help with the rescue, some with canine (who had to wear special booties to protect their paws from the heat and ash) and of course, firemen, police officers, search and rescue personnel, medical personnel, etc.

I thank you for reacting to this. It makes me beam with Canadian pride. I have many relatives in Newfoundland and the maritimes and they're the best people on earth 🌎 ❤️ MY heart broke that sad day for our brother country and I'll never forget the impact it had. We weren't sure if it was going to happen here too. The scariest moment of modern times. RIP to all those souls 🙏 ❤

Thank you Canada for everything you do.

“Come from away’”. There are no strangers, just friends who haven’t yet met” Gander is such a great community!! Proud to be a Canadian.

Watching the closing of US airspace was the scariest part of helplessness that day. Thank you Canada.

This story was turned into a Tony Award winning musical called " Com From Away."

Canada is always our loved neighbors to the North. The Canadians were fantastic for the people that had to be landed in Canada. It is such a heartwarming piece of history! Thank you all of our fellow North Americans up there!!!

No nation is perfect, but none is closer to perfection than Canada. The Canadians gave refuge to runaway slaves. they welcomed Americans who would not go against their consience to fight in Vietnam, and at the end of that war they took in Vietnamese boat people who fled persecution---and of course, there was 9-11. In WWII It was the largest seaborne invasion ever attempted in history. More than 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed or parachuted into France on D-Day. The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 80 vessels, while the RCAF contributed 18 squadrons in direct support of the assault. [An opinion expressed by an ordinary American.]

This was shown during the 2010 winter Olympics. A later documentary "You Are Here, A Come From Away Story ", tells much the same stories, but includes how the "Come From Away" musical was created.

Oh…as a Yank, when I learned about this (no one knew until this aired), my heart melted. What an incredible story that more Americans should be aware of, to give more love to our Canadian neighbors.

Thanks for watching. It makes me so proud to be Canadian 🇨🇦 I hope that more people see this it really is a Canadian thing to be proud of. ✌❤🇨🇦

This is the best good deed story that is virtually unknown outside of Canada. It is very likely Canada's finest moment.

Have you ever reacted to 9/11 boat lift? It will make you tear up, it did me. Thanks to these kind people for taking care of my fellow American citizens. Y'all rock!

This is such a great story. I’ve seen it countless times and it never gets old ! Not much about Canada makes me proud anymore but this still does.

As many as 240 planes were diverted into Canada that day, 17 different airports were used, Halifax took the most of the Atlantic planes - 47. On the Pacific coast planes were diverted too, Vancouver took the largest number of passengers, with other flights being diverted further into Canada.

As a dual citizen Canadian and American both countries in a heart beat would do whatever they have to do to help each other out Canada America are basically sibling countries they don’t always get along but most of the time they do and they always have each others back

This showing what our friends and neighbors supporting our country gives me chills and makes me so proud. One thing I loved about the UK supporting the US was when the queen broke tradition and played the star spangled banner at Buckingham palace which broke a Centuries old tradition. It make me cry every time I see the video of it! It seems like a small thing but that was the first show of support then the UK and Canadian armed forces joined us in the war on terror. We love thefrienship between us and fhe UK Canada. 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸

Nice choice Amanda. The people of Gander did not get the recognition that they deserved. The fortitude to say we will what we need to do to help these people regardless of the hardship it puts on us. They made humanity and Canada proud. Hats off to my Northern neighbors. The documentary you're speaking of BP2 is called 9/11 Documentary for anyone who wants to check it out. Two brothers who are French. Jules and Gedeon Naudet were filming a documentary about how probationary firefighters train in their first year with the department. They caught the first plane going onto the North tower. They continued filming as long as they could. It is unedited except for images of people falling from the twin towers and landing on the ground and people streaming out of the buildings on fire and horrific injuries. I applaud them for not showing that. This is but one example though of people in so many countries that rose to the occasion to help people on flights who couldn't retuen home to the US, most of them Americans. Those images from around the world reminded us of how small the world is and how many friends we Americans have out there.

Great video… I’ve seen this video before and every time it makes me get chills and I’m so happy that we have Canada as our neighbor….

Excellent suggestion Amanda. The citizens of Gander really stepped up. And just getting all those aircraft coordinated in flight and safely on the ground is nothing short of a miracle. I was living in NY that time working for GE. I had just dropped my mother in law off at the airport in Albany a couple of hours prior to the event. Fortunately, she made it to her destination before her plane was grounded. I would like to say we learned from this experience, but current events prove we've learned little or nothing about preserving our national security. Nice to have this video as a reminder that it only took 19 people to carry out this attack. Fantastic review guys. Thanks. - Hawk

I was working in the main Nav Canada facility in Ottawa on 9/11. We had a continent-covering radar screen and I watched the skies clear - it was WAY less than 2 hours before everyone was landed. What this vid did not mention was that the US and Canadian Aid Forces were mobilized and a message went out to every plane to proceed DIRECTLY to the nearest airport big enough to handle their aircraft, and land... if they did not, they might get shot down. It was scary times...

I lived, for a while, on the east coast. The people, in general, are so amazing. I think it's very deeply rooted in the seafaring culture. There are chilling tales of people walking out of the fog, from wrecks along the coastline. I have seen this before, but I never get tired of it. I am still amazed at the scale of what the people of Gander were able and willing to do. I'm so proud of the people of Gander! It was really interesting to hear the perspective from the UK. I'm in Ontario, so upper NY state is only 45 mins from me. I remember vividly being glued to the TV. It actually took my breath away to see the horrific events of that day. I wrote an article for a magazine, a few months later, talking to a chaplain from the Salvation Army who went to help in the big tent they set up for workers, after 911. Everything people working on site needed, they could get. Food, clothing, you name it. He stayed about three months, and had a terrible time leaving the community that grew within and around the tent. Thanks BP1 and BP2. I enjoyed that!

First time seeing this. Makes me want to live in Gander.

The brothers that were shooting the documentary about the fire station in New York are French Canadian. They were separated in the chaos and it was hours before they knew that each had survived.

The owner of the company I was working for in South Flordia was on his way back from Paris and ended up in that town I think it was 3 days before they could leave. A family took him and a few others in and he was so grateful. So many nice people in the world and what a shame all we ever hear is about the bad ones.

Another thing Canada did for us is that within hours their firefighters headed to New York to help in the recovery efforts

The "queues" you mentioned are actually the Atlantic flight lanes. If you look at a flight tracker program at the right time of day, you will see there are many streams of planes heading one way or the other. If you watch the whole sequence, as evening comes in North America, flights from all across the States and Canada take off and start to head towards Newfoundland. As they arrive there, they are given a slot in one of the lanes. There are generally a few mies between planes on the same lines, and further lanes will be flown a few thousand feet above or below and a couple of miles to either side. It's actually a truly remarkable thing to watch. The purpose is to get as many fights into the sky as possible, and having them arrive across the UK and Europe as the airports begin to open in the mornings. - these planes are then refuelled, reloaded and are for the most part headed back to North America, they typically start leaving Europe after lunchtime in the UK and will land in North America at around the "same time" that they left - and eight hour flight West means you down across about 8 time zones. Once again the planes are flipped and ready to do it all over again

I was on an American Airlines flight from the west coast to the east coast when I noticed the plane was banking. The pilot's voice Informed us that we had been ordered to land as soon as an airport could be found. He said there was no problem with our plane. The instructions were from air traffic control. We set down in what turned out to be Little Rock, Arkansas on what looked like a parking lot for jets. It was an incredible sight. The planes were stacked as close as they could put them. By now rumours were circulating. I used one of the phones on the seats in front of me (cell phones were not ubiquitous then) to call my dad. As I was talking to him, he was watching the news on tv and said, the trade tower is gone. I couldn't comprehend what he meant. They wouldn't let us off the plane for quite a while. Once off, I began looking for a way out of the airport area. All the hotel bus drivers were shaking their heads, no. I eventually found a shuttle to Memphis, Tennessee and then a bus heading to Kentucky. I got home a day and a half late. I eventually saw a documentary on how they got all the planes grounded. Its amazing. I also saw this story about Gander.

God Bless our Canadian brothers and sisters! You have always had our backs and we have never forgotten it. you will always be in our prayers and we will always stand by your side.

I remember seeing 9/11 on the tv in canada while eating my breakfast and even then as a small child i knew canada would open our doors wide open to help anyone who needed it and a place of safety people could run to. It is the same now with the war on ukraine we have open our homes and hearts to help

It's one of those where were you when it happened moments. I was on the Main Street Bridge over the St Johns River in North East Florida waiting. Late for work due to dental appointment. Bridge was up for a beautiful sailboat. Heard about the 1st plane on the radio. Called my boss to tell her I could see her office from the bridge she told me about the 2nd plane. City core shut down a few hours later and we all went home. Jacksonville is home to 2 Naval bases & 90 miles south of a nuclear subbase in Georgia. We had bomb scares for the next few months in multiple buildings. People can be trolls. I also remember where I was when Kennedy got assassinated. In 2nd grade (6.5 years old) on a Navy Base in Rhode Island USA. All I remember is they shut down the school & locked down the base real fast & we had to go to our rooms & stay there. Still April & 91 degrees with full humidity today. OMG HELP!!

Incredible, I remember that dreadful day vividly.

This is a great story. There was also an impromptu boat lift off of Manhattan on 9/11 as well (it was larger than Dunkirk), thats worth checking out also.

This Michigander would have just started walking to Windsor just point me the way to go home. Home is just across the river I can see it from Windsor. I don't need to fly or even want to. The fact is I probably would have never wanted to look at another plane just walking and feeling the ground under My feet would have felt like heaven along with breathing that same beautiful air.

Hey Guys--I think it's actually called Operation Yellow Ribbon. Thanks for creating!

On September 11th, Paul McCartney was aboard a flight at JFK airport about to takeoff for home in England when the attacks happened. Everyone had to exit the aircraft and go home. No flights today. Watch the film "United 93", about the FOURTH hijacked airliner that day and the passengers that stormed the hijackers in the cockpit.

Yes. The documentary you referred to was produced by two Frenchmen, I think brothers. Probably the best documentary about the day out there, minute by minute, with incredible footage.

What this doesn’t mention is how all the pets on these planes were also taken care of by veterinarians.

As a Gulf War veteran (desert storm) , working for the water department, nobody had their water cut off that day.

LOL... gentlemen, please forgive me for not yet even learning your names, but I only found you just now. But at the 5:20 mark I saw the fellow on the right (from my view) tilt his head, and I knew exactly what he was doing. He was tuning his ear, dialing in for "the accent". And it thrilled me to no end to hear that he, along with every other British person I have ever met, correctly identifying an accent, in this case Claud Elliot's accent as being Irish. Nobody else can do that as well as the English and Scots. I always get a kick out of that, but perhaps even more importantly, I appreciate that you people (English, Welsh and Scots) have had that talent for at least the past 30 million years... when very few others on earth can even do it at all these days. Honestly, that gave me such a thrill. I don't know why I always appreciate that talent, but I just do. Thank you for that. As a very healthy 75 year old Canadian of Irish ancestry (and extremely good health) have never yet had the opportunity to visit any of your countries to enjoy hearing your own accents in person. I expect to be here on earth for at least 30 more years, so I hope to enjoy that great experience some day. I find you two guys to be really cool, and respectful. I love that! My own genealogy studies have shown that the blood that flows through my veins is 98% Irish, most likely from the SW, perhaps the Cork area. I don't know how you gentlemen would recieve that news but I do know that if my uncles from Cork were still here with us, they would say "who fvckin' cares?" 😂 I really like you guys. Lotsa love from Danny Murphy (using my mom's surname) in Alberta.

I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, USA when 9/11 happened. I lived just down the road and directly in a flight path to our small, Regional Airport! It was so eerie to see all the airplanes just parked all over the runways, near the gates and along the fences (we maybe had 10 or so official gates at the time,) and not have the routine drone of a plane flying directly over our house. For the first time, I could converse on the phone without closing windows or going to the basement! I didn’t work for several days following because I worked in Plasma collection and folks switched to donating whole blood, which meant they had to wait at least 6 weeks to donate plasma.

Wow! I have never heard of this either! How is that possible???

I'm actually surprised at the reactions of the makers of these (and other) videos. But then, Canada didn't broadcast or boast about their assistance during this time. Newfoundlanders didn't either. Their attitude is simply - 'In a crises, you just help where help is needed. It's what they've always done. The rest of the world can look up to them.

All planes were grounded in the U.S. too. I used to live under the approach path to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA. It was so eerily quiet.

i got home after driving my wife to cfb trenton and watched it on the news live and got a call from her saying she was is lockdown and didn't know when she would be home SCARY DAY!

We didn't have as many people in moncton, but still quite a few, i took 3 days off school in grade 11 to help sort shelter and food for the passengers that did end up here. I slept for an entire day after that. I don't regret it at all, i met some fantastic people over those three days.

i've seen this before and it's like the first time. clearing the airspace in the time they did was awe inspiring. everyone was so focused on what was happening on the ground i'd never given planes flying a second thought. the first documentary i saw regarding 9/11 was on clearing the airspace, ut i don;t recall if it was this documentary. i only remember being so impressed. just like the boat lift, when the world needs to stand as one i never doubty that we will.thank you for the request

We love you Canada.

There were also animals on these flights that were cared for too.

We got some of the transatlantic aircraft that had already been handed off from Gander Center to Edmonton, which covers area control for all of the "over the pole" passenger aircraft headed for places like the west coast of the U.S., or western Canada. There are large airports at Edmonton, then directly south at Calgary. There's also the airport in Winnipeg Manitoba - closer to central Canada, and Vancouver, B.C. - right in the southwestern-most point of Canada. But because of the aircraft course tracks, and fuel remaining, a good number of these were brought in to Edmonton. Vancouver - being (literally) a stone's throw from the U.S. border, wasn't going to be a preference for the U.S., and because of flight paths, not many were in a position to go to Winnipeg, or to turn east and south to Ontario. So Edmonton International got a fair number, as did Calgary. Both cities are much larger than Gander, so there are many hotels - several located near the airports. However, as in Gander, there were not scads of Border Services or RCMP members available to help de-plane all of the passengers, and check passports, etc. There certainly was an unexpected mass of people and aircraft, but nothing like what they had at Gander. The people in Edmonton and Calgary certainly did their best to make sure that people had everything they needed - not only meals but all the simple stuff like a toothbrush (since no luggage was being taken off the aircraft when they landed). The folks in Gander, and Goose Bay, Halifax and all the towns around Gander handled everything in absolutely wonderful way, and it makes me both proud and grateful to see how they stepped up and just made it happen, with almost no warning and no preparations. When I see and hear this story again, I can't imagine the amount of shock and uncertainty and, in some cases, fear for family members that all of those passengers were suffering with. And I can't help thinking about the great people at and around Gander, who just got on with it, no fuss - only concern for all of the unexpected guests. Thanks for offering a view from the UK - I've heard from a few of the U.S. passengers who made a stop in Gander, but very little from elsewhere. Cheers,

I was working at a hotel near the airport that i currently work at. And lets just say i was very for about 3 or 4 days making food for stranded passengers In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Once i saw the news that day, i knew it was gonna be busy.

There isn't much we Canadians wouldn't do for our close friends, the Americans. And indeed, for our motherland, Great Britain. God Bless you all, from Canada.

Once airspace was closed in the USA, all planes had to land somewhere ASAP, not at their destination. All air traffic controllers had their hands full that day as tons of planes had to be diverted to the closest airport. They were all told to land ASAP and I consider that to be a major task for all air traffic controllers.

R.I.P. to all the people that died that horrible day, I will never forget it. We actually thought Toronto may get hit.

I am a native New Yorker who was living overseas on 9/11/01. I also lost a family member in the World Trade Center when the first tower collapsed. I was unable to contact anyone in NY for hours. Then I got a call stating my family lost someone. I could not return home until over a week later due to the closure of US airspace.

Thankyou Gander.😌

I watched them all land. We were like WTF.

The US has always been extremely fortunate, and strengthened by the fact that we have a great neighbor on our northern border. Some countries are not so lucky. Canada feels like a brother that I can tease, but no else can. I have close friends in the US who are from Canada. Every time they return, they buy me a shot glass. :)

Gander is not a "small airport". it was built for WWII for Canadian and American flights out to Europe. Canada also had a large Airforce base in Goose Bay, Labrador (among bases all over Canada. I know. I grew up on Airforce bases across Canada, including Goose Bay.) Canada played a key role in WWII, both with building infrustructure here and with our military efforts in Europe, but once the allies won, the Brits and Americans dismissed us as though our bravery, courage, skills and war dead were nothing. Canadians were heroic in WWII. My officer father was in charge of identifying Airforce bases across Canada to close in the early 1980's. I went with him on some of these trips. It was all very sad to see.

I believe this was shown twice in the USA during the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, in England?

Do people tell you all the time that you look like Dax Shepard? i think about it every time I see your videos lol ❤

I remember that day very well, if the planes didn"t land they would be shot down, I think it closed for 3 days!

Yes, that was Rudy before he lost his damn mind.

Canada, our cousins to the north.

react to 9/11 Cleared For Chaos....it's from the perspective of the gander air traffic controllers

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It was the right thing to do.

I thought you'd like to know, your title is incorrect. It was not called, Operation Yellow Tree. It was called, Operation Yellow Ribbon.

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Don’t cha know, that most of the Canadian maritimes ARE Irish and Scottish?

How do you spot the Newfoundlanders in Heaven? They'll be the ones that are homesick.

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There was a great musical about this called “Come From Away” en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_from_Away it is sad that so many outside of Canada know this story, but every single person in Canada does.

I wax driving to a friends house in DC n could feel the earth move like an earthquake n smoke rising into the sky over the Pentagon n traffic stopped n didnt know what to do. Many people came out of their cars telling all to turn their radios on. Not many stations mentioned the 4th plane flight 93 that crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA. The passenger's knew about the other planes that crashed n the hijackers on their flight ordered everyone to stay seated. Several men called home to tell their families goodbye. Then they said lets go n attacked the hijackers as they knew they will be next. These people were True Heroes. The government believed flight 93 was headed to either the Capital or the White House. They brought down their plane in a field in PA. My cousin lived near that town n had just heard about NYC n Pentagon n felt the crash n smoke. They put up a Monument in that field.Yes dont forget all the animals on board the planes that landed n were cared for by Vet hospitals feeding. Gander is our close northern neighbors that would help us on a mins notice. And our cousins across the Pond ( our close allies ) would also come to our aid. ❤❤❤❤

Newfies are the best!!

There's a special place in Heaven for people of this generosity, kindness and love. Shortly after 9/11 I heard about Gander and what wonderful people took care of 100's of Americans and many from other countries like England, etc.. (I also have to admit how proud I am to be an Ohio State Buckeye and that a Buckeye set up such a wonderful scholarship fund that still helps to this day!!) THANK YOU GANDER AND THANK YOU CANADA OUR SISTER COUNTRY ABOVE!!! WE LOVE YOU! WE WILL NEVER FORGET - 9/11 ❤🤍💙 ❤🤍