Nova Scotia flight attendant, German purser formed lifelong bond following 9/11 terror attacks

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewsNova ScotiaHalifax Nova Scotia flight attendant, German purser formed lifelong bond following 9/11 terror attacks Today marks 25th anniversary of attacks on the United States Author of the article: By George Myrer Published Sep 11, 2026 Last updated 49 minutes ago 6 minute read Michelle Joudrey was a flight attendant with AirNova when planes across North America were grounded due to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. She hosted five Lufthansa crew members at her then home in Dartmouth. She's shown holding a picture of herself and that crew. PHOTO BY AARON BESWICK /The Chronicle Herald Article content Michelle Joudrey remembers 9/11 like it was yesterday. Article content Twenty-five years have passed since a co-ordinated series of terror attacks hit the United States and grounded air traffic on Sept. 11, 2001. Article content Article content Joudrey, who was married to Air Canada pilot Toby McElroy at the time, was enjoying a day off from her job as a flight attendant for Air Nova. A friend was coming over for coffee and to watch the Live with Regis and Kelly morning TV show. While waiting, Joudrey turned the channel to CNN and watched in horror as two planes flew into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Article content Article content “I literally watched that unfold,” said Joudrey. “We have so many aviation connections that immediately we started touching base with family and friends.” Article content She knew her husband was on the ground and later learned that his uncle, an American Airlines pilot, was also safe. Article content “We quickly put out telephone calls to find out where people were and happily found that everybody was on the ground.” Article content By then, Halifax Stanfield International Airport was becoming a parking lot as flights from around the world were diverted. In all, 40 aircraft carrying about 8,000 passengers and crew landed at the airport that day. Article content Temporary shelters were set up across the Halifax Regional Municipality, and community members opened their homes to stranded passengers and crews. Article content A Lufthansa plane sits among 39 others diverted to Halifax on Sept. 11, 2001 after the terror attacks in New York and Washington. PHOTO BY TIM KROCHAK /The Chronicle Herald Article content Lufthansa plane among diverted…