@r747 well this time it was YYR and not Gander, so be it. I am however interested to know if/how the conditions could have been better for pax _and_ crew once at YYR. So far I have not seen anything specific (what was requested, what was denied). There is this:
Goose Bay Airport | Directory of CBSA Offices and Services | Canada Border Services Agency
which I understand as, YYR cannot serve as airport of entry for commercial traffic - correct ?
Now what could be the exceptions and protocols in place, I do not know.