Brussels in lockdown after airport and city center explosions
Two explosions went off in the departures hall of Brussels international airport this morning and a third in a metro station in the city center.
Eyewitness reports said one of the airport explosions was close to the American Airlines check-in area and the other close to a Starbucks cafe.
But American Airlines later issued a statement saying its check-in operates at Row 8 of the departure hall, away from where the explosions occurred .
Earlier it said there were no reported injuries to its employees.
American Airlines flight 751 from Brussels to Philadelphia has been canceled for today.
It said customers with flights to or from Brussels may call its reservations desk at +1-800-679-8215 to get the latest information on their flights. In Belgium, customers may call (+32) 070 300 300.
Delta said its flight DL80 from Atlanta to Brussels landed safely at the airport and is parked remotely, with the local team working on plans to safely deplane passengers to a secure holding area.
Delta flight DL42 from New York to Brussels has been diverted to Amsterdam.
United Airlines, which had two arrivals at Brussels this morning, said all of its employees are safe and accounted for at this time.
Flight 950 from Washington Dulles arrived at 7:01 a.m. and customers deplaned normally at the gate.
"Our second flight – flight 999 from Newark Liberty – was rerouted to a remote location and our customers and crew have deplaned," it said.
Belgian authorities have confirmed one of the airport explosions was a suicide bomb attack.
The airport was evacuated by emergency services and all flights suspended.
Authorities have confirmed 11 fatalities and around 80 injuries at the airport and 15 people killed and around 55 injured at the metro station, which is close to European Union buildings.
Belgium has raised its terror threat to the highest level, all Eurostar services to Brussels have been canceled, and public transport closed.
The US Embassy is advising anyone in the city to find shelter and avoid all public transportation.
The blasts come just days after Brussels police arrested Salah Abdeslam, believed to be one of the organizers of the November Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people.
European flights were due to be getting back to normal today following two days of strike action by French air traffic controllers.
London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports have stepped up security in light of the events in Brussels.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent