Well, I already posted on the VOA site, might as well ad my comment here.

The passengers were indeed in the transit area of Terminal B. They were not kept in a basement but were free to move around in the terminal. I think that by the basement, they mean the border control area. Which is actually on level 2, and has windows looking out on the runway. A large group of them stayed in that area, even though, once again, they were free to go around and go up to the higher levels where more comfy chairs are to be found. To make it clear: there are no basements at BRU where passengers who missed their connection are kept.

Their passports were all collected by UA and brought to the immigration office. The border police then started making up visa requests to the immigration ministry in Brussels. This obviously took some time.


There's a pizza hut, starbucks, seafood restaurant, sandwich bar and a self service restaurant available in the B-terminal and a few bars. No need to go hungry or thirsty. UA gave out vouchers to the passengers. I don't know what amount was on it. But still, they did get vouchers and I suppose most people were in possession of a credit card if they wanted to buy more stuff.

Once the visa's were issued, the passengers were allowed into the country and could spend the night in the Sheraton hotel at the airport.

The VOA article offers a very one-sided version of events, wouldn't call it high-class journalism.

And I feel more than just a little bit upset to posters who point to history to make wild claims that Belgium is a racist country. That is just stupidity.

Racism has nothing to do with this. Lack of foresight of United does.