U.S. grateful to city for being good neighbour

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2011 (5209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The United States presented a plaque to Winnipeg on Friday for the help and kindness Americans received here on and after 9/11.

“We thank you for your compassion, hospitality and friendship during these dark days,” U.S. Consul Tim Cipullo said at a ceremony at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, close to 1,500 air passengers on 17 flights were diverted to Winnipeg. Most didn’t find out why until they got to the terminal and were stunned by the news.

Air Canada passengers en route from Calgary to Ottawa said they were told they would be landing in Winnipeg due to “technical problems with the air traffic system.”

Inside the airport, passengers gathered around TV screens to watch the live coverage and images of the planes hitting the Twin Towers over and over. Police dogs patrolled the Winnipeg terminal. With news of the attack at the Pentagon and the hijacked plane hitting the ground in Pennsylvania, the stranded travellers wondered aloud if more attacks would be coming that day.

At approximately 12:20 p.m., an airport announcement advised passengers that North American airspace had been closed. No one knew when it would re-open.

“We have no idea when we’ll be up and running,” said an Air Canada representative on that fateful day.

“This has been a massive disaster in the U.S.”

With the fear of more terror attacks, three international flights were directed to land at 17 Wing, the Canadian Forces base adjacent to the Winnipeg airport.

Diverted passengers were lodged in hotels and motels throughout the city and as far away as Gimli.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority had a doctor, nurses and social workers on hand to help passengers with physical or emotional problems. Winnipeg Transit buses transported passengers from a Northwest Airlines flight from Manila at 17 Wing to their hotel. Many of the passengers were helped by local translators as Northwest Airlines briefed them on where they could be accommodated while they waited for connecting flights.

For the next few days, stranded passengers tried to rent cars, board trains and held vigils at airline counters waiting for word on when they could leave.

Upstairs, in the airport chapel guest book, people expressed their thanks to Winnipeg.

“We appreciate the kindness and warmth of Winnipeggers,” wrote one passenger flying to Calgary from Montreal.

Ten years later, that sentiment is being remembered with the plaque presented by the Americans.

“We’re grateful to stand with the best neighbours any country has ever had,” said Cipullo.

The plaque will be placed in the new terminal when it opens, said airport spokeswoman Christine Alongi.

She expects it will be in a pre-security area where everyone can see it, not just air travellers.

 

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

 

Manitoba events mark 9/11

 

Winnipeg: 4 p.m. Manitoba Multifaith Council is holding a peace prayer circle in Central Park downtown.

International Peace Garden: 11 a.m. Premier Greg Selinger, the Manitoba Professional Fire Fighters Association and North Dakota officials are holding a service in the park on the Canada-U.S. border.