Statement from Brussels airport on its ‘blackest day’
Brussels Airport issued the following statement on Tuesday afternoon in light of the terror attacks.
"On behalf of the entire airport community, I would like to extend our warmest condolences to the family and friends of the victims of these cowardly and heinous acts. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the emergency and rescue services, passengers and staff for their compassion, solidarity and help. This is without doubt the blackest day in the history of Brussels Airport", says Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist.
All flights and other operations at Brussels Airport have been cancelled for the day. The airport site has been entirely evacuated to give the public prosecutor and the police enough room to meticulously carry out their investigation into the explosions at the airport.
Brussels Airport is fully collaborating with the judicial and police services. Forensic investigation by the public prosecutor and the police in the terminal is still underway.
Until the investigation is complete, nobody is allowed to enter the departures hall, including the airport staff.
Brussels Airport has been hit in its heart, in the departures hall where at that moment many passengers were waiting to leave on holiday. At Brussels Airport tens of people died in the attacks or were severely injured. Immediately following the explosions, the Red Cross and other emergency services arrived at Brussels Airport to take care of the victims. By now, all of the victims have been evacuated from the airport.
The Red Cross remains present at various locations on and in the vicinity of Brussels Airport to assist victims, witnesses, relatives and friends. Brussels Airport wishes to thank the emergency services for their efforts and humanity in these difficult moments for our passengers, staff and the people who care about them.
People who wish to inquire about the passengers at Brussels Airport can call number 02 7537300
Apart from the many victims they made, the explosions severely damaged the departures hall at Brussels Airport. All airport operations have been cancelled for the day to allow the emergency and police services to do their job.
At this moment it is impossible for us to say when operations will be resumed. There is much damage and we do not have access to the building as the investigation is still underway. As soon as more information is available, we will inform the public on this website or through the social media channels of Brussels Airport.
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.
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