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
Apr 29, 2016, 1:16 pm
#181
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
Just announced this afternoon, looks like the departures hall will re-open May 1st. Capacity is still limited so check-in will apparently be split between the tents and the terminal building, depending on airline. Definitely some welcome news though 
http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/mediaroom/news/73248/
http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/mediaroom/news/73248/
Apr 30, 2016, 11:45 am
#182
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
Looking forward to checking it out tomorrow.
A week ago, the wait in line to wait in line to wait in line was long enough that anyone who wanted to do anything malicious could have easily done it before reaching the initial screening point.
A week ago, the wait in line to wait in line to wait in line was long enough that anyone who wanted to do anything malicious could have easily done it before reaching the initial screening point.
May 2, 2016, 3:56 am
#184
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
Total chaos. Avoid BRU until they figure out how to move people through the preliminary checkpoint.
They weren't using the main departure hall yet.
The line stretched all the way from arrivals, and was joined by lines with people from the train station and the bus terminal. I joined the preliminary security line by coming from the train station. It took about 40 mins from joining the line for preliminary security to getting through security. Add 20-30 minutes from the arrivals level. No priority lines, although staff were letting people queue-jump if they were running late.
If anyone wanted to do anything malicious like blow themselves up, this was THE place to do it... IATA chief agrees.
Check-in was also total chaos, but I bypassed it as I had no bags. Main security was a breeze, compared to a week ago.
A week ago it was less time waiting at preliminary security, and more time waiting at main security.
Plan for 1-1.5 hours to get through the mess or consider alternative airports.
They weren't using the main departure hall yet.
The line stretched all the way from arrivals, and was joined by lines with people from the train station and the bus terminal. I joined the preliminary security line by coming from the train station. It took about 40 mins from joining the line for preliminary security to getting through security. Add 20-30 minutes from the arrivals level. No priority lines, although staff were letting people queue-jump if they were running late.
If anyone wanted to do anything malicious like blow themselves up, this was THE place to do it... IATA chief agrees.
Check-in was also total chaos, but I bypassed it as I had no bags. Main security was a breeze, compared to a week ago.
A week ago it was less time waiting at preliminary security, and more time waiting at main security.
Plan for 1-1.5 hours to get through the mess or consider alternative airports.
May 2, 2016, 5:50 am
#185
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brussels, London, Geneva, ....
Programs: Priority Club Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, formerly BA Gold, formerly KLM silver
Posts: 245
Chaos at Brussels Airport this morning ..
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en...News/1.2645825
and
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en...News/1.2645427
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en...News/1.2645825
and
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en...News/1.2645427
May 2, 2016, 8:52 am
#186
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
I was reading some reports of people that waited 2.5 hours of longer. The airport suggests getting there 3 or 4 hours ahead of your flight and traveling as light as possible.
People that were interviewed said the current situation was disaster and protects the building but not the travelers waiting in line like sitting ducks.
Links:
http://nieuws.vtm.be/binnenland/1891...-missen-vlucht
http://www.demorgen.be/reizen/screen...ucht-b9ec7c8e/
May 2, 2016, 9:19 am
#187
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
People that were interviewed said the current situation was disaster and protects the building but not the travelers waiting in line like sitting ducks.
Last edited by Palal; May 2, 2016 at 3:30 pm
May 2, 2016, 12:44 pm
#188
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
Apparently it got worse and travelers had to wait 4-5 hours according to De Morgen.
http://www.demorgen.be/opinie/niets-...ijgt-bfe7ed89/
http://www.demorgen.be/opinie/niets-...ijgt-bfe7ed89/
May 2, 2016, 1:34 pm
#189
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brussels, London, Geneva, ....
Programs: Priority Club Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, formerly BA Gold, formerly KLM silver
Posts: 245
The President of Brussels Airport blamed the police unions via Facebook (Google translation from French).
http://www.rtl.be/info/monde/economi...r--815004.aspx
"We are ridiculous abroad." It is the sentence of the President of Brussels Airport. Words that Marc Descheemaecker wrote on his Facebook page in response to the endless lines that had to suffer the passengers today. The owner of the airport does not hide his anger.
The words of Marc Descheemaecker, President of Brussels Airport, posted Monday afternoon on his Facebook page, leave little to the imagination as to his opinion on the waiting time at the airport due to the pre-screening ( pre-filtering) passengers. This "stuffing" should be removed as soon as possible because "we are doing a shot in the foot and we pay ridiculous abroad," he wrote. "M * t ... 40 days working day and night to reopen the airport and some delegates of police unions are clinging to the ridiculous pre-filtering system. Delete delete this ... this ..." writes Marc Descheemaecker on Facebook. Earlier in the day, police unions and the office of Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, met to try to find a solution to the long lines waiting at Zaventem Airport.
The words of Marc Descheemaecker, President of Brussels Airport, posted Monday afternoon on his Facebook page, leave little to the imagination as to his opinion on the waiting time at the airport due to the pre-screening ( pre-filtering) passengers. This "stuffing" should be removed as soon as possible because "we are doing a shot in the foot and we pay ridiculous abroad," he wrote. "M * t ... 40 days working day and night to reopen the airport and some delegates of police unions are clinging to the ridiculous pre-filtering system. Delete delete this ... this ..." writes Marc Descheemaecker on Facebook. Earlier in the day, police unions and the office of Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, met to try to find a solution to the long lines waiting at Zaventem Airport.
May 2, 2016, 3:06 pm
#190
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
The police union stated that everybody needs to be screened before entering the airport. They also threatened to go on strike if the government didn't meet their demands, and the government couldn't afford a strike at that point in time, so they gave in.
May 2, 2016, 3:35 pm
#191
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
I met the guy a few times when he was the CEO of SNCB, and he seemed like a no-nonsense "get it done" type of guy. Let's see what happens here. According to his LinkedIN, he's the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Brussels Airport Company
Last edited by Palal; May 2, 2016 at 3:49 pm
May 3, 2016, 2:33 am
#192
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brussels, London, Geneva, ....
Programs: Priority Club Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, formerly BA Gold, formerly KLM silver
Posts: 245
That's been known.
The police union stated that everybody needs to be screened before entering the airport. They also threatened to go on strike if the government didn't meet their demands, and the government couldn't afford a strike at that point in time, so they gave in.
The police union stated that everybody needs to be screened before entering the airport. They also threatened to go on strike if the government didn't meet their demands, and the government couldn't afford a strike at that point in time, so they gave in.
May 3, 2016, 11:06 am
#193
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
Changes starting tomorrow (Wednesday 5/4).
Not all travelers will be checked anymore when entering the white tents. They will "randomly" select travelers for an in-depth check.
Police will also get additional training for behavior analysis.
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/po...port-b9870841/
Police will also get additional training for behavior analysis.
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/po...port-b9870841/
May 3, 2016, 1:27 pm
#194
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Not all travelers will be checked anymore when entering the white tents. They will "randomly" select travelers for an in-depth check.
Police will also get additional training for behavior analysis.
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/po...port-b9870841/
Police will also get additional training for behavior analysis.
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/po...port-b9870841/
May 3, 2016, 3:44 pm
#195
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
One time my SO was flying alone and I wasn't allowed to stand next to her during check in because I could "monitor and influence her answers", as they said. That response was followed by a short, albeit unfriendly exchange of thoughts...