Security Increased At Miami Int'l Airport Post Paris Attacks
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Police at Miami International Airport are on high alert following the Paris attacks.
Flights bound for Paris from MIA took off Friday night, with just a few minor delays setting passengers back.
Mayor Carlos Jimenez said Miami-Dade police patrols were being increased at MIA as well as PortMiami.
A group of friends were shocked and anxiously waiting to board their flight back home to Paris.
They had been enjoying their last hours on Miami Beach before they heard of the deadly attacks.
"I feel really worried about my family, about my friends and all the people in Paris," said Olivier Pascal.
His friend, Olivier Kamalanathen, echoed that saying, "I tried to reach my family, my brother to see if they were all okay."
As the men got ahold of loved ones, the firsthand accounts of the bloody chaos in Paris terrified them.
"They were just saying they were hearing some noise, something was happening. They weren't sure what was going on," Kamalanathen explained. "There were people lying on the floor with a lot of blood, they were running everywhere. So scary."
The friends boarded their American Airlines flight to Paris as did other travelers.
Air France, Delta and American Airlines say their Paris-bound flights are on as scheduled, though some delays are possible. They were closely monitoring developments
Kamalanathen pointed out Paris is a great city and wondered sadly, "I'm still shocked because why France? Why are they attacking France?"
The airlines strongly suggest anyone flying to Paris over the weekend should check their flight status online or by phone.