Subject: So where did all those airplanes go ... a sequel

OUT OF THE ASHES, A RAY OF LIGHT

On Oct. 26th., while flying from Minneapolis to Sacramento, which is near
my home, I struck up a conversation with the man in the seat next to me.
After exchanging a few trivialities such as where each of our homes were
etc., I mentioned that I was glad that there were at least some good things
coming out of the tragedies of Sept. 11th. I went on to say that I had read
a story on the Internet about how when the FAA closed the airways over the
US, the passengers of 53 airliners had been graciously taken in by the
people of the small town of Gander on the island of Newfoundland.  My
seatmate, whose name I came to learn was Dann, shared that he had not seen
the story, but that he knew it to be true ... because he was the pilot of
oneof those 53 airliners.  The following is a brief summary of what Dann
shared.

Dann pilots a Boeing 747-400 routinely from cities in South East Asia and
Beijing, China to New York City.  On Sept. 11th, he was returning to the US
when he was informed of the hijackings and that the FAA felt that there
might be more terrorists on board other aircraft ... waiting to do their
dastardly thing!  All aircraft heading for the US were ordered to land
ASAP, but to do so in a manner so as not to trigger the hijackers into
action.  Dann felt uncomfortable about it, but knew he had to make up a
false reason to trick his passengers into believing that things were OK,
while making an emergency landing.  He told them that it appeared the plane
might be a little low on fuel, so to prevent any possibility of a problem,
they were going to make a brief landing, fuel up, and be on their way.  All
this was in an attempt to convince any possible terrorists to "sit tight",
as they would still have an opportunity to execute their plans.

Once on the ground, Dann tried to use his cell phone to call his wife and
others to make sure they were OK.  He was unable to get through to anyone.
Shortly thereafter, he explained to his passengers as much as he knew about
the happenings in New York and Washington.  He went on to say that all of
us are under the control of the Canadian government, that no one could
leave the plane (while obviously not mentioning it was because of the
concern that there might be terrorists on board), but asking for everyone's
patience while things got worked out.  About this time, one woman became
uncontrollably upset.  Dann and a stewardess tried to console her, only to
learn that her husband worked in one of the World Trade Towers!  (I believe
it was about this time, that Dann shared that never had he received any
formal training as to how to handle a situation such as this).   Dann had
to practically force the husband's name, work phone number, and home phone
number from the grief stricken woman, and then again tried to use his cell
phone.  Obviously there was no connection to the phone which formerly was
in the WTC building, but miraculously the home phone rang, and a male voice
on the other end answered with a shallow "Hello".  Dann responded with the
question "Is this Joe (fictitious name)?", and the reply was "yes".  "Oh
GOOD", Dann exclaimed, then added "I'm Dann, Northwest pilot, and I've got
your wife.  She's OK, how are you?"  Joe briefly described how he had
gotten out of the building JUST as it collapsed ... that he had been covered
with dust, but hadn't received a scratch.  "I'll tell your wife", Dann
responded, "but I'm not sure when I'll be able to get her home", and then
they hung up.  Dann was unable to complete any other cell calls for some
time.

The Canadian government informed them that they would have to spend the
night on the plane, but that they would be allowed to leave the next day,
and that provisions and shelters for all would be provided.  They were also
told that they and all their belongings would be searched, as they were
entering a foreign country.  The next day a line of yellow school busses
formed outside the plane, accompanied by lines of armed guards forming a
path from the plane to the busses.  Dann cautioned and almost pleaded with
his passengers to cooperate with the guards, and tried to assure his
travelers that things would be all right.  As one elderly man with his aged
wife on his arm started to disembark, Dann observed a tear falling down the
man's cheek.  Dann asked what was the matter, and the reply came, "That's
what they told us when they took us to Auschwetz."  A sinking feeling fell
upon Dann as he quickly exclaimed "NO! NO! It's not going to be like that!
Trust me! Trust me!"  So the old man and his wife walked down the stairway
and got onto one of the busses.

After a rather thorough inspection of both person and belongings, the
passengers were taken to meeting halls, gymnasiums, and other facilities
where cots had been set up.  All schools had been shut down, and local
restaurants began preparing food AROUND THE CLOCK!  Dann shared that by the
second day, ALL the elderly passengers and many others were moved to
private homes, and that everyone was given the opportunity to go site
seeing or shopping.   Dann was chauffeured around to the various places
where he could share updates with groups of his passengers.  He estimates
that there were passengers speaking 20 different languages on his flight,
but interpreters were provided for most.  Upon learning that one passenger
family was from America, it's host family cooked them an entire
Thanksgiving turkey dinner!

Eventually the time passed, and the passengers were returned to the plane
for the continuation of their flight ... again in the yellow school busses.
But this time, as the elderly man and his wife climbed the stairs to board
the plane, there were no tears, only a warm loving smile.

Thank you SO VERY MUCH Dann for sharing this wonderful experience with us,
and to the people of Gander and it's surrounding area, GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Mark Gilbert
tagreg@foothill.net       

I received the following back from Dann after asking him to proofread what
I had written ... before I started sharing it.

Mark,

Just got back from Nagoya Japan, and got your email.  Your memory is quite
impressive.  I could not disagree with one thing in your letter.  The
elderly Jewish man said what he said at the top of the airstairs when he
looked down at the awaiting busses and the armed military men at the bottom
of the stairs.  He absolutely froze at the sight, turned to face me, and
said with a tear, "I know you didn't mean it young man, but that was
exactly what they said to us over the megaphones as we got off the train in
Auschwitz."
I don't think that quote will ever leave my memory Mark.  Everyone has been
telling me that I have to get my story down on paper, my wife, my friends
even my chief pilot of the 747-400.  I've written 1/2 a page and found it
to be difficult and surprisingly painful.  At the time my concern for my
400 passengers insulated me from feeling any personal grief.  Writing the
details now leaves me without any of that insulation.  Very intersting.

Hope this helps.  But I hope you convey that the real heroes were the
Canadian people.  As I told you on the plane, I hope that my town would
have treated 15,000 strangers the way Gander did.  I don't know the answer
to that - I can only hope that we would.

By the way did you get the rest of the pictures I sent to you??

Dann