Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 12/01) - Yellowknife found itself playing host to 144 unexpected visitors yesterday when their Seattle-bound Boeing 777 jet was diverted here in the wake of four hijackings and terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

Passengers file out of a United Airlines jet that was forced to land in Yellowknife Tuesday following terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

Airport officials and emergency response crews waited anxiously for hours for up to three "large-bodied" aircraft to land at the airport, but eventually only the Seattle-bound aircraft was diverted.

Most of the passengers are Japanese tourists originally heading for Seattle, Wash., and Denver, Colo. United Airlines flight 876 left Bangkok and stopped in Tokyo before being diverted to Yellowknife, where it landed shortly after 1 p.m.

The passengers and 16 crew members were taken in groups of 10 to 15 to the Canadian Forces Forward Operating Location, where they were expected to spend at least 24 hours. Interpreters were on hand and city businesses offered their services for the duration of their visit.

City clerk Debbie Euchner thanked Yellowknife residents for an outpouring of support for the stranded passengers, but during an afternoon press conference at the airport she pleaded for them to stay at home.

The sight of the large jet plane on the airport tarmac attracted dozens of spectators, particularly as it made its descent onto the runway.

As of press time, it was undetermined what will be done with the aircraft or how its passengers would be allowed to continue their trip.

"Certainly it would have to manage its load when it's (the runway) 7,500 feet," said Jim Winsor, director of airports for Transport Canada.

The problem, Winsor said, as in the case with other large aircraft that have landed at the airport in recent years, is the difficulty it would have taking off with a full load of passengers and fuel.

Air traffic halted

It was a similar story across the country, as all international flights en route to American destinations were diverted to Canadian airports.

Regular air travel in both the U.S. and Canada was suspended upon news of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

Winsor said the call came in to ground all flights in the NWT other than emergencies shortly before 8 a.m.

At a second press conference held at the airport yesterday afternoon, Winsor said it was likely the flight ban would be enforced until noon today and possibly even longer.

Many flights, both international and domestic, were over NWT airspace when the call was made. Pilots were given the option to land at their airport of choice, whether at territorial airports or larger runways in the South.

Airport emergency personal in Yellowknife and Iqaluit were put on high alert.

"This is the quietest time it's been since before flight," said Winsor, referring to an eerily silent airport terminal during the press conference.

Local airlines were left scrambling to comply with Transport Canada's order yesterday to get back on the ground.

The order came after two hijacked jets crashed into the World Trade Centre towers and a third hit the Pentagon. A fourth jet crashed outside Pittsburgh, Penn.

"It's scary, obviously it's (an aircraft) the weapon of choice right now among terrorists," said Mike Olson, director of sales for First Air in Yellowknife.

According to another official with First Air in Ottawa, there were 12 company aircraft in the air when the order went out, and all were diverted to the nearest airport.

Not even smaller aircraft operators remained unaffected by the flight ban. Arctic Excursions, which operates four float planes out of Old Town, had to put business on hold while waiting for word of when the ban would be lifted.

When contacted by Yellowknifer, the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C. could not confirm whether any NWT residents were among the dead or injured. An embassy spokesperson said staff were devastated by news of the hijacking.

"The mood is obviously sombre," said Pam Chappell, media relations officer with the embassy. "Right now, the embassy is functioning at a higher level of security."

A six-member NWT delegation did seek shelter at the embassy after the attacks.

Among the group was Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko and Joe Tetlichi, chair of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board.

Attempts to contact the delegation were unsuccessful but Gwich'in Tribal Council president Fred Carmichael did speak to Tetlichi.

"I had a call from Joe and they're all fine and they're all together," said Carmichael.

Yellowknifers looking for information on loved ones in New York can call 1-800-387-3124.