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
May 4, 2016, 4:11 pm
#196
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,572
Being a frequent traveler to Southern Netherlands (with the main airports of AMS, BRU and DUS all about the same distance away), I always loved BRU. Certainly compared to the sheer amount of time it would take at AMS to clear customs/security, or the longer travel times to DUS, BRU was a great efficient airport. Would I consider flying there again while this lasts? Hell no! Even at tiny CRL uselesa extra security measures are in place. And for what? It's really just for a show of force.
I'm sure many people who have a choice of airport, think the same. I'm just surprised that frequent flyers (those in the European bubble at Berlaymont etc) aren't complaining en masse and trying to influence this. I cannot imagine they are happy with this waste of time and energy.
I'm sure many people who have a choice of airport, think the same. I'm just surprised that frequent flyers (those in the European bubble at Berlaymont etc) aren't complaining en masse and trying to influence this. I cannot imagine they are happy with this waste of time and energy.
May 5, 2016, 2:41 pm
#197
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
Being a frequent traveler to Southern Netherlands (with the main airports of AMS, BRU and DUS all about the same distance away), I always loved BRU. Certainly compared to the sheer amount of time it would take at AMS to clear customs/security, or the longer travel times to DUS, BRU was a great efficient airport. Would I consider flying there again while this lasts? Hell no! Even at tiny CRL uselesa extra security measures are in place. And for what? It's really just for a show of force.
I'm sure many people who have a choice of airport, think the same. I'm just surprised that frequent flyers (those in the European bubble at Berlaymont etc) aren't complaining en masse and trying to influence this. I cannot imagine they are happy with this waste of time and energy.
I'm sure many people who have a choice of airport, think the same. I'm just surprised that frequent flyers (those in the European bubble at Berlaymont etc) aren't complaining en masse and trying to influence this. I cannot imagine they are happy with this waste of time and energy.
May 11, 2016, 8:52 am
#198
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
Luggage handlers from Aviapartner just went on strike:
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/ch...stil-b25036f6/
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/ch...stil-b25036f6/
May 11, 2016, 10:25 am
#199
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,566
In the mid 2000s in AMS (flying NW to BOS): You're staying at a friends house? When's his birthday? Whaaaat, you don't know your friends birthday? The boss of the stupid-question-team let me fly! I have tens of such stories, mostly in AMS, but also in BRU, ATH and LHR. 
May 12, 2016, 6:52 am
#200
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
Luggage handlers from Aviapartner just went on strike:
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/ch...stil-b25036f6/
http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/ch...stil-b25036f6/
May 23, 2016, 7:07 am
#201
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CT
Programs: Marriott-LT Titanium; AA-LT Gold/Currently Plat Pro
Posts: 208
My 89 year old uncle is scheduled to leave BRU to fly to JFK on Delta this Wed., he hasn't flown in probably ten or so years. I want to make sure he gets to the airport in time. Any updates as to how long he should get there, three hours enough or are the lines still crazy long? Thanks!
May 24, 2016, 5:23 pm
#202
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
My 89 year old uncle is scheduled to leave BRU to fly to JFK on Delta this Wed., he hasn't flown in probably ten or so years. I want to make sure he gets to the airport in time. Any updates as to how long he should get there, three hours enough or are the lines still crazy long? Thanks!
May 25, 2016, 9:20 pm
#203
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SIN/BRU
Programs: A3 Silver, BA BLUE, IHG Gold, Hertz President's circle, AY plat
Posts: 233
They don't really enforce the 'only ticketed passengers may enter the terminal' rule anymore, at least not the 2 times I was there in the past weeks.