Operation Yellow Ribbon
| Company type | Government operation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation safety and emergency management |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Government of Canada |
| Headquarters | Canada |
Area served | Canada |
Key people | David Collenette (Transport Minister), Andy Vasarins (Nav Canada VP Operations), Kathy Fox (Assistant VP Air Traffic Services) |
| Products | Airspace management and aircraft diversion during emergencies |
Operation Yellow Ribbon () was launched by Canada to handle the rerouting of civilian aircraft after the September 11 attacks in 2001. The mission aimed to swiftly clear U.S. airspace of any potentially hazardous flights by diverting them to Canadian military and civilian airports, primarily located in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. Additional diversions took place in Yukon, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Quebec as a precaution against possible threats. None of the redirected planes presented any danger, and Canada provided refuge for thousands of passengers stranded until U.S. airspace was reopened.
This initiative commenced following the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforcement of Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA), which resulted in grounding all flights within the United States—an action without precedent. The FAA worked closely with Transport Canada to divert incoming international flights to airports across Canada.
Throughout Operation Yellow Ribbon, all outbound flights were suspended except for those related to police, military, and humanitarian efforts, marking the first-ever closure of Canadian airspace. In total, between 225 and 240 aircraft were redirected to 17 airports across the country.
Implementation of emergency protocols
Immediately following the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), both Transport Canada and Nav Canada, Canada's air navigation service provider, initiated their emergency response procedures.
Transport Canada
At 09:21 EDT, just 18 minutes after the second plane struck the WTC, Transport Canada activated its situation centre (SitCen) based in Ottawa.
Originally designed to respond to earthquakes on the British Columbia Coast, this SitCen served as Transport Canada's emergency operations centre (EOC). It had previously been utilized during incidents such as the January 1998 North American ice storm and following the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111. During this critical event, key organizations—including Nav Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA)—coordinated their efforts through SitCen. The centre maintained ongoing communication with Canadian aviation industry groups such as the Air Transport Association of Canada, local airport authorities, as well as counterparts at the FAA and other international civil aviation bodies.
Nav Canada set up two command centres: The Strategic Command Centre (SCC) located at its Ottawa headquarters, overseen by Andy Vasarins, vice-president of operations, which directed overall crisis management and information coordination; and the Tactical Command Centre (TCC) in Cornwall, Ontario, led by Kathy Fox, assistant vice-president of air traffic services, which maintained direct communication with airports and control towers. General managers from various regions across Canada were stationed at the TCC. Once the immediate emergency subsided, operations from the TCC were consolidated into the SCC at headquarters.
The operation
At 09:45 ET (13:45 UTC), on his inaugural day as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Operations Manager, Ben Sliney initiated a complete halt of all U.S. air traffic in reaction to the attacks.
Actions taken by Transport Canada
In response to the FAA’s decision to close U.S. airspace, Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette directed Canadian airports to remain operational solely for outbound police, military, and humanitarian flights, as well as inbound international flights destined for the United States. This event marked the first occasion of an unplanned closure of Canadian airspace.
At the time of the attacks, roughly 500 flights were en route to the U.S. Transport Canada instructed Nav Canada to allow transoceanic flights that had crossed the midpoint over the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans to land at the closest Canadian airport, depending on their origin and fuel reserves. Aircraft entered Canadian airspace at a frequency of one to two per minute.
The Situation Centre (SitCen) prioritized determining landing sites and coordinating immigration and customs processing for tens of thousands of passengers. To accelerate these procedures, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) redeployed additional staff from other locations.
The initial diverted aircraft landed at CFB Goose Bay, which received seven planes; fourteen other Canadian airports also accepted redirected flights. Throughout the operation, SitCen maintained constant communication with these airports, Minister Collenette, and his deputy Margaret Bloodworth.
Atlantic flights
Airports in Atlantic Canada encountered substantial operational pressures. For security reasons, Transport Canada directed Nav Canada to reroute European flights away from busy central Canadian hubs such as Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (Ottawa), Lester B. Pearson International Airport (Toronto), and Dorval International Airport (Montreal). The majority of incoming European flights landed at airports in Atlantic Canada, though some were diverted to Dorval and Pearson.
Gander International Airport, serving as the initial North American stopover on transatlantic routes, accommodated 38 wide-body aircraft mainly destined for U.S. cities, hosting approximately 6,600 passengers and crew—exceeding half the town’s population of under 10,000. Then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien remarked that Gander’s population increased by over 50% within a matter of hours.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport managed 40 comparable flights. Additional Atlantic airports such as St. John's International Airport, Greater Moncton International Airport, CFB Goose Bay, and Stephenville International Airport handled the remaining transatlantic diversions.
Pacific flights
The majority of transpacific flights originating from Asia bound for the West Coast of the United States were redirected to Vancouver International Airport, which is the only major Canadian West Coast facility capable of accommodating large aircraft on these routes. Thirty-four flights carrying approximately 8,500 passengers arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Military involvement
The joint U.S.–Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed fighter jets from both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force to intercept and escort civilian aircraft to Whitehorse International Airport in Yukon.
A prominent incident involved Korean Air Flight 85, which was traveling toward John F. Kennedy International Airport via Anchorage, Alaska and suspected of being hijacked. This situation led to evacuations in Anchorage and Whitehorse amid concerns over a potential crash. The plane, running low on fuel and experiencing communication difficulties, was forcibly evacuated upon landing at gunpoint. The episode was ultimately caused by a faulty transponder combined with translation misunderstandings. One year later, then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien revealed that he had authorized fighter jets to shoot down the aircraft if it was confirmed terrorists were aboard.
Comparable military escorts took place at Vancouver International Airport, where two U.S. F-15s accompanied an Air China Boeing 747 flying from Beijing to San Francisco due to communication challenges.
Reaction
To prevent alarm, the majority of pilots chose not to disclose the nature of the attacks to passengers before landing; in some cases, pilots themselves were not fully aware of the events unfolding. A pilot interviewed by Global TV remarked, "While airborne, we had very little information about what was happening. The only communication we received involved security protocols and instructions to divert."
Passengers were typically informed only after the aircraft had landed, occasionally through direct announcements made inside the cabin. According to The Washington Post, a passenger aboard a Frankfurt-to-Dallas flight rerouted to Pearson recounted that the pilot initially attributed the diversion to turbulence and refueling needs, before revealing the terrorist attack once on the ground.
Due to Transport Canada's elevated security measures, passengers experienced extended delays disembarking. The RCMP increased their deployment of officers to conduct thorough security checks on planes parked on inactive runways and bolstered their presence within terminal areas.
At several airports, including Pearson, passengers who were stranded had access to news broadcasts or support from airport chaplains. Crisis response teams were also available to provide assistance throughout this challenging time.
The CBC highlighted that these efforts earned commendation from U.S. officials. Then-United States Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta publicly recognized Canada's crucial role in managing diverted flights during a White House briefing. On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, President Barack Obama expressed gratitude for Canada's friendship and unwavering support amid the crisis.
Totals
Estimates regarding the number of diverted flights and affected passengers differ among sources. Transport Canada cited over 33,000 travelers arriving on 224 flights in Canada, whereas Nav Canada recorded a total of 239 flights. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien approximated that between 225 and 250 flights carried from 30,000 up to 45,000 passengers.
| Airport | Airport code | Number of aircraft | Number of passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax International Airport | YHZ | 47 | 7,300 |
| Gander International Airport | YQX | 38 | 6,600 |
| Vancouver International Airport | YVR | 34 | 8,500 |
| 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 | ||
Halifax International handled the greatest number of incoming flights, while Vancouver International recorded the highest passenger count.
Transport Canada and participating airports experienced notable increases in website traffic as travelers sought updates on news bulletins, frequently asked questions, and flight diversion details. On September 12, 2001 alone, Transport Canada's website attracted more than 47,000 visitors. Halifax International's online platform saw an unprecedented surge with 2.1 million visits in September and half a million in October—dramatically surpassing its typical monthly range of 40,000 to 50,000 visits.
Impact on Canada
Following the rerouting of flights, thousands of passengers and crew members found themselves stranded, necessitating provisions for lodging and meals. Facilities such as Vancouver International Airport faced a surge in assistance requests from both the general public and corporate entities. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Situation Centre managed an estimated 5,000 inquiries each day originating from airports, airlines, media outlets, and citizens.
In an interview with CNN, Jean Chrétien, who was then serving as Prime Minister of Canada, confirmed that passengers were accommodated in various locations including hotels, schools, and gymnasiums, with Canadian officials prioritizing their well-being.
The relief efforts received widespread acclaim from both the public and government figures. Commendations came from Chrétien and his spouse Aline Chrétien, U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci, Minister Collenette, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, as well as leaders at the provincial level. Gratitude was expressed toward the airports involved by passengers, airlines, local volunteers, and U.S. customs and immigration personnel. Edmonton International Airport notably included a child’s artwork depicting the diverted flights in its 2001 annual report. Similarly, Halifax and Edmonton airports published expressions of appreciation in their reports and on their websites. Numerous accounts highlighted the generosity extended to those stranded.
Several airports received accolades for their crisis response: Vancouver International was honored with the 2001 Airport Management Award from the British Columbia Aviation Council for its exemplary professionalism; Halifax International earned an Amethyst Award from the Canadian Public Relations Society (Nova Scotia) recognizing its crisis communication efforts.
On September 11, 2002, approximately 2,500 people gathered at Gander International Airport to commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks in Canada. The ceremony was led by Chrétien, Collenette, Cellucci, and other dignitaries. Chrétien lauded Operation Yellow Ribbon’s spirit of compassion: "9/11 will remain etched in memory as a day marked by terror and sorrow. Yet thanks to countless acts of kindness here in Gander and throughout Canada, it will also be remembered as a day of solace and healing." He concluded by praising all participants: "You made yourselves proud... and you made Canada proud."
In popular culture
Operation Yellow Ribbon has been represented across various forms of media.
The CBC miniseries Diverted dramatized the events surrounding the operation. The significance of Gander is underscored in the 2018 documentary film You Are Here, which received the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary. Additionally, Gander Centre and Gander Air Traffic Control’s roles were featured in Discovery Channel’s documentary 9/11: Cleared for Chaos.
This operation also inspired the Broadway musical Come from Away, created by Canadian playwrights Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The production tells the story of passengers, Newfoundlanders, and flight crews in the aftermath of 9/11. It was performed at Broadway's Schoenfeld Theatre from 2017 through October 2022, garnering seven nominations at the 2017 71st Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and winning the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.
Books
- "Mac Moss. Flown into the Arms of Angels: Newfoundland and Labrador's Unsung Heroes of 9/11 [1]
Television
- Attack on the USA, CBC News, September 11, 2001
- Global National: America Under Attack, Global TV, September 11, 2001
Newspapers
- Higgins, Michael and Smyth, Julie. "Jets Escorted by Military to Airports Amid Hijacking Concerns," The National Post, September 12, 2001, p. A9