Reflecting on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, former prime minister Jean Chretien recalls feeling in danger as the first reports of the attacks emerged and officials grappled with the scale of a tragedy that would forever change the world.

Nearly a decade after the terrorist attacks, Chretien sat down with CTV National News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme to talk about his personal memories of that day.

Chretien was at his official residence on Ottawa's Sussex Drive as the World Trade Center burned, and he knew that his proximity to nearby airports and waterways would make him an easy target.

In fact, as images of the World Trade Center attacks spread, security officials in the U.S. and Canada could only guess if more attacks were imminent.

Initially, Chretien said he let fear creep in.

"Not more than that moment. After that, you're involved in decision making. You have to be calm. You have to move," he said.

"I said, ‘My God, if someone wants to get me, it will be easy.'"

Chretien suggested to his wife, Aline, that she leave Ottawa and go to the prime minister's summer retreat at Harrington Lake, but she refused.

Within hours, the United States had closed its airspace, effectively stranding thousands of travellers in midair.

Despite the possibility that major Canadian cities were targets, Chretien famously allowed more than 200 stranded aircraft to land on Canadian soil.

A tougher decision, however, was what to do with a mysterious Korean plane that was thought to be hijacked. Officials feared that it was headed for Vancouver.

In fact, Chretien contemplated shooting the aircraft down if it got too close to the Lower Mainland.

"I said, ‘Yes, do it if it's needed.' And in fact, the plane eventually landed in Whitehorse," he recalled.

But from tragedy and fear came strength, as Canada rallied in a massive show of support for the U.S.

Three days after the attacks, more than 100,000 people crowded onto Parliament Hill for a ceremony of solidarity, despite warnings from security officials that such a large crowd was unsafe at the time.

"I was a very proud Canadian that day. We were not to go in hiding in Canada. But the security people were telling me not to do it."

Only a month later, Chretien agreed to send Canadian troops into battle in Afghanistan, as the U.S. rallied its allies and began the so-called "War on Terror."

While Afghanistan was directly linked to the 9-11 tragedy through the Taliban and al Qaeda, Chretien differed with his American counterparts when the focus shifted to Iraq.

Though then-U.S. president George W. Bush wanted Canada to help with the Iraqi invasion, Chretien declined.

"It was the first time where the Americans and the British were involved in a war and Canadians were not there," he said.

"I was not convinced it was right."

Though it has been a decade since 9-11 and years since Chretien left office, that fateful September day and all that's happened since has stuck with him, he said.

While some might think that being a former prime minister means exemption from the increase of security at airports and border crossings, Chretien said he is often treated like other travellers.

In fact, he even hinted in the interview that he was once asked to strip down while travelling to the U.S.

When asked if he complied, Chretien said: "not completely."