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Metro Airport operations normal following attack

Posted at 6:08 PM, Mar 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-22 18:08:46-04

Metro Airport officials report a smooth day of operations locally following the horrific terror attacks in Belgium Tuesday morning.

Armed Homeland Security officers were on patrol both inside and outside the McNamara Terminal, but that has become the new normal since the September 11 terrorist attacks in this country.

"The safety and security of our customers and employees is the airport authority's number one priority," said airport spokesperson Michael Conway.

Airport officials work closely with federal transportation security partners on a daily basis. Conway said the airport authority's public safety team was monitoring the situation in Europe.  

The attacks on Belgium's airport and a busy metro station has not kept Americans from traveling.

"Probably today is one of the safest days to travel because everyone is on high alert," said Paula Thibeault.

Thibeault had a stopover in Detroit. She and her husband are heading to London. The couple did not consider changing their travel plans because of what took place in Belgium.

"It's incredibly horrific and obviously we've had it happen in the past," Thibeault said. "As long as we have terrorist groups like ISIS out there, they're very patient, but we can't let them disrupt our way of life." 

Officials in Belgium announced the airport in Brussels would be closed until Wednesday.

There are no non-stop flights to Brussels from Detroit. Conway suggests that passengers should check with their airline if they have any questions regarding their travel plans.