Operation Yellow Ribbon
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.
| 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]
Operation Yellow Ribbon Media
Map showing airports where US-bound flights diverted to.
Lufthansa christened an Airbus A340, registered D-AIFC, Gander – Halifax to honour the two cities that received its stranded flights during Operation Yellow Ribbon.
References
- ↑ Chase, Steven (September 12, 2001). Canada rolls down security shutters.
- ↑ "NAV CANADA and the 9/11 Crisis". NAV CANADA. 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
- ↑ "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.
