Halifax, N.S. 2012-09-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — It was eleven years ago tomorrow that hundreds of airport employees responded quickly, professionally and with great compassion to the tragic events of a day that changed world history.
“This is a time for reflection,” says Tom Ruth, Halifax International Airport Authority President & CEO. “As we pause to appreciate the many freedoms and privileges we enjoy in Canada, our thoughts go out to everyone near and far who was affected by the terrorist attacks of eleven years ago. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and once again thank the members of our airport community – including our HIAA employees, volunteer hosts, and everyone from our many partner organizations – and every Nova Scotian who stepped up to lend a hand to help the thousands of unexpected visitors the airport received that day,” he says.
At approximately 11:35 a.m. on September 11, 2001, a United Airlines B767 landed at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA). It was the first of 40 aircraft carrying some 8,000 passengers that were diverted to Halifax that day. Halifax Stanfield received the greatest number of aircraft of any Canadian airport and was the first major airport to have all diverted flights back in the air.
Halifax Stanfield received many expressions of thanks from around the world. Lufthansa Airlines named a plane in honour of Halifax. U.S President George Bush wrote a thank you letter and on September 1, 2006, the President sent U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, to Halifax Stanfield to host a reception to mark the fifth anniversary. Some diverted passengers even bought space on a billboard in downtown Halifax to express their appreciation.
For more information on September 11, 2001 click here.
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