Mar 22, 2016, 5:59 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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Flyertalk Brussels incident moderator team: stut, cblaisd and starflyergold
N.B. PLEASE do not alter the contents of this moderator note.
SUMMARY: At ~08:00 local time on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, three men with several large bags arrived by taxi at BRU / Brussels Zaventem airport. They proceeded with their bags on trolleys into the departures area, where they detonated Claymore type devices within the suitcases (explosives wrapped with shrapnel consisting of nails, etc.) at opposite ends of the Departures area.
11 are known dead in this incident, many more injured. Two bombs detonated, a third suitcase detonated later, after the area had been evacuated. Two bombers were killed, a third one is being searched for; he is believed to be Hakim Laachraoui, allegedly the bomb designer and implicated in the November 13 Paris terrorist bombings.
Approximately an hour later, two men including the brother of one of the BRU bombers detonated a suicide explosive device at the Maelbeek metro station, not far from EU / EC buildings. More than 20 were killed at the metro station. In all, there have been over 260 reported injuries.
BRU / Zaventem began to open with three flights 3 April. There are new procedures in place, as reported by member flatlander on Sunday, 3 April in the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum.
Alternate access to / from Brussels by air is via Brussels Charleroi / CRL / EBVI 29 miles from the city and connected by bus. CRL hosts Low Cost Carriers and some airlines have temporarily diverted flights from BRU to CRL.
Rail services (e.g. Thalys from Amsterdam and Paris) are functioning normally.
11 are known dead in this incident, many more injured. Two bombs detonated, a third suitcase detonated later, after the area had been evacuated. Two bombers were killed, a third one is being searched for; he is believed to be Hakim Laachraoui, allegedly the bomb designer and implicated in the November 13 Paris terrorist bombings.
Approximately an hour later, two men including the brother of one of the BRU bombers detonated a suicide explosive device at the Maelbeek metro station, not far from EU / EC buildings. More than 20 were killed at the metro station. In all, there have been over 260 reported injuries.
BRU / Zaventem began to open with three flights 3 April. There are new procedures in place, as reported by member flatlander on Sunday, 3 April in the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum.
flatlander, 3 Apr 2016:
BRU is now open with limited service. See http://www.brusselsairport2203.be for new arrivals and departures procedures.
Of note: There will be a vehicle check approaching the drop-off zone. Only passengers will be allowed past the drop-off area into the temporary check-in and departures area, and there will be no luggage trolleys or catering in the departures area. After security there are a few places to eat and drink.
There are no train or bus services to the airport. Access is by private car, taxi, foot or bicycle. No car rental at the airport.
...Recommended arrival time at the airport is 3 hours before departure.
BRU is now open with limited service. See http://www.brusselsairport2203.be for new arrivals and departures procedures.
Of note: There will be a vehicle check approaching the drop-off zone. Only passengers will be allowed past the drop-off area into the temporary check-in and departures area, and there will be no luggage trolleys or catering in the departures area. After security there are a few places to eat and drink.
There are no train or bus services to the airport. Access is by private car, taxi, foot or bicycle. No car rental at the airport.
...Recommended arrival time at the airport is 3 hours before departure.
Rail services (e.g. Thalys from Amsterdam and Paris) are functioning normally.
Resource information:
Link to BRU / Zaventem airport site with maps and details of current procedures.
Link to detailed BRU procedures for departing passengers.
Belgian Federal Crisis Center offers an English PDF here, and current updates on its FaceBook page here. Twitter @crisiscenterbe.
Relatives of BRU / Zaventem airport victims or inquiring may call +32 2 753 73 00.
Relatives of Maelbeek victims or inquiring may call +32 78 15 17 71.
Rail service has been reestablished to all rail stations (excepting BRU). Noctis busses are running. Trams #92 and #93 are running. For Metro service, see here. Plan more time for security procedures implemented as Belgium is at Security Level 3, even at rail stations, etc. and be sure to be prepared to produce valid identification.
Link to updated article on BBC
Updated 03 April 2016 by JDiver
Link to BRU / Zaventem airport site with maps and details of current procedures.
Link to detailed BRU procedures for departing passengers.
Belgian Federal Crisis Center offers an English PDF here, and current updates on its FaceBook page here. Twitter @crisiscenterbe.
Relatives of BRU / Zaventem airport victims or inquiring may call +32 2 753 73 00.
Relatives of Maelbeek victims or inquiring may call +32 78 15 17 71.
Rail service has been reestablished to all rail stations (excepting BRU). Noctis busses are running. Trams #92 and #93 are running. For Metro service, see here. Plan more time for security procedures implemented as Belgium is at Security Level 3, even at rail stations, etc. and be sure to be prepared to produce valid identification.
Link to updated article on BBC
Updated 03 April 2016 by JDiver
Brussels airport and metro explosions 22 March 2016
Mar 23, 2016, 7:50 am
#61
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Maybe 60 minutes are on their way to Brussels now like they did after the Paris attacks.
Mar 23, 2016, 8:01 am
#62
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There are as many as 30 direct services linking Schiphol Airport with Brussels on weekdays (and a similar number on weekends)
There are 16 hourly "Intercity Brussel" trains (the first one departing at 06:07; the final one departing at 21:07) that reach Brussels in 3 hours and that depart 7 days a week
Intercity Brussel route map
On weekdays, there are also 14 almost-hourly high-speed "Thalys" trains (departing at 33 minutes past the hour from 06:33 to 20:33 inclusive, except that there is no train at 10:33 or 19:33, but with an additional service departing at 20:03) that reach Brussels in 1:35 minutes for a higher price. The number of Thalys trains on weekends is somewhat reduced (12) and there are a few variations to the departure times, though the structure remains very similar to the weekday schedule.
Thalys route map - entire network
This means that you rarely have to wait for more than 30 minutes for a direct train service from Schiphol to Brussels.
Mar 23, 2016, 8:02 am
#63
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
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Some new witnesses:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ss-Europe.html
UK security services are also worried, so keep your eyes open everyone and remember!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ss-Europe.html
UK security services are also worried, so keep your eyes open everyone and remember!
Mar 23, 2016, 10:40 am
#65
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There's a link to listen as well as a transcript here:
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/22/471474...ussels-airport
Mar 23, 2016, 11:54 am
#66
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
I do read French, and this is the kind of story I was looking for on a passenger's experience: http://www.nicematin.com/temoignage/...ttentats-34699
Mar 23, 2016, 1:02 pm
#68
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I don't know the exact wording, but the USA state department has issued some kind of a travel warning for Belgium according to cable news in the USA.
ADDED: CNN is saying that it's for Europe but hasn't defined Europe for this purpose.
ADDED: CNN is saying that it's for Europe but hasn't defined Europe for this purpose.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Mar 23, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Mar 23, 2016, 1:11 pm
#69
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The airlines normally flying into the southern Brussels Charleroi / CRL airport are still flying, and a few airlines have diverted scheduled flight service from BRU ato CRL in the interim.
The rail services to all Brussels stations have apparently been restored; trams 92 and 93 have been restored. Metro service is not completely restored; see http://www.mivb.be/irj/go/km/docs/ST...splash_nl.html for updates.
On another note, my wife and I will fly to Europe next month to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. There's no though of canceling or changing a thing; our risks are greater using local taxis, and encountering local cons, pickpockets and petty criminals.
We also flew the first day flights were restored after 9/11.
After experiencing an apparent timed explosive device (it was found and removed) incident on Pan Am in 1986, and terrorist attack on the Metropole Hotel in Saigon in 1965, I'm not about to give terrorists the power to dictate the course of my life; that's exactly what they aim for.
The rail services to all Brussels stations have apparently been restored; trams 92 and 93 have been restored. Metro service is not completely restored; see http://www.mivb.be/irj/go/km/docs/ST...splash_nl.html for updates.
On another note, my wife and I will fly to Europe next month to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. There's no though of canceling or changing a thing; our risks are greater using local taxis, and encountering local cons, pickpockets and petty criminals.
We also flew the first day flights were restored after 9/11.
After experiencing an apparent timed explosive device (it was found and removed) incident on Pan Am in 1986, and terrorist attack on the Metropole Hotel in Saigon in 1965, I'm not about to give terrorists the power to dictate the course of my life; that's exactly what they aim for.
Mar 23, 2016, 1:36 pm
#70
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https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...vel-alert.html
More of a C.Y.A. thing it seems. Typical "common sense" type of info.
Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants, and transportation. This Travel Alert expires on June 20, 2016.
U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious holidays and at large festivals or events.
U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious holidays and at large festivals or events.
Mar 23, 2016, 1:38 pm
#71
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On my own time, the State notices of that sort don't cause me to abandon plans or make new ones to go elsewhere just because of such incidents and/or advisories.. I'm just as likely to be connecting via BRU or in the city next week as I would be before these attacks, assuming the airport is open. I am less likely to fly out of BRU on US carriers, if only because I don't want to be hassled even more by the type of contract "security" that DL uses at AMS and that demand some people to have and show ID from countries of which they are neither a citizen nor resident and which they've never had in their possession.
Mar 23, 2016, 4:58 pm
#73
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CNN in the USA is reporting that BRU airport is closed through Saturday (and of course possibly beyond this).
They're also saying that the USA embassy says that some USA citizens are unaccounted for at this point. This is apparently the result of friends and family not being about to reach them and then contacting the USA Department of State or the Embassy/Consulate in Brussels.
They're also saying that the USA embassy says that some USA citizens are unaccounted for at this point. This is apparently the result of friends and family not being about to reach them and then contacting the USA Department of State or the Embassy/Consulate in Brussels.
Mar 24, 2016, 3:57 am
#75
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Not sure what others have experienced at other airports in Europe, but yesterday at CTA (Catania, Italy), all entrances to the airport at the departures level are closed except for one, and anyone entering the airport needs to show a passport and printed itinerary.
At the arrivals level, anyone waiting for a passenger has to wait outside, no one allowed in the arrivals hall. If you need to rent a car, etc... you get get in.
When we got off our flight from IST, even before going to passport control, we went through another security screening. Checked bags took a good 30 minutes to show up, so I assume they were being screened again.
At the arrivals level, anyone waiting for a passenger has to wait outside, no one allowed in the arrivals hall. If you need to rent a car, etc... you get get in.
When we got off our flight from IST, even before going to passport control, we went through another security screening. Checked bags took a good 30 minutes to show up, so I assume they were being screened again.