Former YVR staff recall the airport's response to 9/11

Former Vancouver International Airport staff are reflecting on the airport’s response to the September 11 attacks, 25 years later. Craig Richmond, then YVR’s vicepresident of operations, said the airport quickly became a staging area for 34 diverted flights and more than 8,500 unexpected passengers as Canadian airports took in rerouted aircraft under Operation Yellow Ribbon. Richmond and other former staff described a chaotic day of coordinating parking for large aircraft, closing two runways, and helping stranded travelers learn what had happened. They also recalled how airport workers, local organizations, and residents helped feed passengers and offered shelter to those in need. Ali Hounsell, a former YVR spokesperson, said the atmosphere was tense and emotional as passengers arrived in tears after hearing the news. Danielle Moore, then an operations manager, said staff from across the airport stepped into unfamiliar roles to answer calls and help people search for relatives. All three said the day showed both the shock of the attacks and the generosity of the local response.