Come From Away chronicles the real-life experiences of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and the almost 7000 airline passengers who were forced to land there when US air space was closed on September 11, 2001. The stories of both the Islanders and the Plane People are told, revealing the fear and uncertainty that came with the terrorist attacks – as well as the profound generosity and compassion of strangers.

While some characters and stories are an amalgamation of several people and experiences, others are grounded in true people. Along with acting out the events of the four days, characters step out from the story to narrate the events.