At least 34 people have been killed while 80 others were seriously injured in terrorist attacks at the Brussels global airport and a city metro station.
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The Central Industrial Security force (CISF), responsible for security of airports across the country, has beefed up security at all airports, including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. This means a passenger can take anything inside a terminal right up to the check-in and security check area. Although the Pittsburgh airport does not offer direct flights to Brussels, Kerlik predicts the resuming of normal operations in the Brussels airport to be decided on a national basis.
Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport is known for its tough security, including passenger profiling to identify those viewed as suspicious, bomb-sniffing devices and questioning of each individual traveller. On the other hand, anyone can go up to the checkin area at American and European airports. Most of the airports in India follow “security hold area” security system.
Kerlik advises travelers to arrive two hours before their scheduled flight, leaving ample time for increased security measures. Bob Kerlik, Vice President of Media Relations for Pittsburgh International Airport says they are in constant communication with both the Pittsburgh Police and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers.
In Turkey, passengers and bags are screened on entering the terminal and again after check-in. Singh said that besides the country’s airports, CISF has also intensified the security checks at Delhi Metro stations guarded by it. “This is important as the passenger traffic at metro stations is much higher than at airports”, he said.
3- Boarding Gate: Under this security plan, passengers are screened just before boarding plane.
The relative openness of public airport areas in Western Europe contrasts with some in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where travellers’ documents and belongings are checked before they are allowed to enter the airport building. According to ISF director general Surender Singh, passenger screening prior to their entry into the airport building would cause rush and inconvenience to the passengers.
The Duluth International Airport says passenger safety is always their number one priority.
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Police in Brussels released a still from closed-circuit TV footage showing three men pushing baggage carts whom they suspect were involved in the attack at the airport. Though he did not elaborate, the heightened security drill at airports covers measures such as random checking of luggage at entrance to airports, deployment of more quick reaction teams, stricter frisking and a second round of checking of hand baggage at boarding gates.
