Upstate SC couple recalls 9/11 flight diversion, 6 days of Canadian grace

Caroline Dennis remembers the voice of the pilot, calm and reassuring, even as he mentioned the words “terrorist activity.”

“He said there had been some terrorist activity in the United States and air traffic controllers were closing down the air space,” Dennis said.

Caroline, her husband, Phillip — who are now Presbyterian ministers in the Upstate — and their two young children were on a flight from France, originally destined for Atlanta. The pilot told passengers the airplane would be diverted to a place called Gander, Newfoundland, in Canada.

The date was Sept. 11, 2001.

Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, Caroline Dennis had marveled at a beautiful morning of blue skies and cotton-like clouds. At that moment, the iconic twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were