Closing North American Skies: The People and Stories Behind COME FROM AWAY

When tragedy hit the United States on September 11, 2001, decisions on what to do had to be made quickly. Lieutenant General Eric “Rick” Findley of the Royal Canadian Air Force was on watch as NORAD’s Director of Operations that day, overseeing both Canadian and U.S. personnel and North American air space at Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. Captain Beverley Bass, American Airlines’ first female Captain and a character in COME FROM AWAY, was en route from Paris to Dallas with 156 passengers plus crew.
Lt. General Findley, Captain Bass, and COME FROM AWAY cast member James Earl Jones II joined Canadian Consul General Ariel Delouya in a special panel to share about their experiences and decisions on that day and how those actions led to the hit musical.
Presented in partnership by Des Moines Performing Arts and the Consulate General of Canada.

[@HRHBailey77W]

CA. Bass was one of the best in the industry! A remarkable human!

[@tonytse4905]

I'm at 24:58, I'm applauding Captain Bass for her announcement to the passengers. 👋👋👋👋👋

[@melissagregory-oc5jq]

Loved hearing these real life stories. An amazing play about kindness in the midst of disaster. Re the line in the show about why the planes couldn’t land in larger cities, I didn’t laugh. I cried. The fact that they completely welcomed and cared for thousands of unexpected strangers despite their own potential danger made me love and respect them even more. Someday I’ll visit Gander to meet those lovely Newfoundlanders.

[@savantianprince]

Gander sounds like a community that live their lives in truth and love snd light.❤

[@lenniedavis1294]

Thanks for this!

[@savantianprince]

TSA was borne out of 9/11