All flights to Brussels Airport in Belgium have been canceled following twin blasts this morning that have left several people dead and injured.
There have been 2 explosions at the airport. Building is being evacuated. Don't come to the airport area.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
Don't come to the airport – airport is being evacuated. Avoid the airport area. Flights have been cancelled.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
A spokesperson for Qatar’s national carrier told Doha News that “all Qatar Airways staff, customers and aircraft are reported safe.”
The airline flies to Belgium daily, but today passengers from Doha would have arrived shortly before the explosions.
And some passengers heading from Brussels to Doha could have been in the departures terminal – thought to be where one of the explosions happened – for check-in about the time it happened.
The return journey to Doha today will be delayed, the spokesperson confirmed, adding, “we expect no other operational disruption.”
However, it is likely that there will be a knock-on effect for all flights in terms of delays in that area, due to the Brussels airport closing.
What happened
According to news reports, there were two explosions at the airport, whose cause remains unclear.
Many people were seen fleeing the airport following the blasts:
https://twitter.com/intlspectator/status/712186276879998976
One of the explosions is thought to have taken place at the American Airlines counter in departures, and another on the runway.
According to Reuters, Belgium has been on high alert for a possible “revenge attack” after arresting a suspect in another attack over the weekend.
“Salah Abdeslam, the prime surviving suspect for November’s Paris attacks on a stadium, cafes and a concert hall, was captured by Belgian police after a shootout on Friday.
Thoughts?
