Once Again, a Newfoundland Town Rescues Stranded Passengers

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rylee KirkJanuary 9, 2026 at 03:03 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

On Wednesday, January 8, 2026, hundreds of passengers were stranded at the airport in Gander, Newfoundland, after two flights were diverted due to bad weather. With no taxis available, the assistant manager of a local hotel posted a call for help on a community Facebook page. Gander residents responded by driving to the airport and providing transportation to the stranded travelers' lodging. This event echoed the town's response after 9/11, when Gander famously sheltered thousands of passengers from diverted flights. Locals like Kristi Kinden volunteered to drive passengers, including elderly individuals, to their hotels. The town's history of helping stranded travelers was previously memorialized in the Broadway musical "Come From Away."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New York Times 30% Gander Connect 40% Quality Hotel and Suites 50% Kristi Kinden ×360% Jackie Freake ×370% September 11, 2001 70% Newfoundland ×280% Gander ×890%

Keywords

gander newfoundland 90% stranded passengers 90% community support 80% airport diversion 70% local residents 60% bad weather 60% hospitality 50% 9/11 50%