Reporter photographs "heroes" after Brussels airport terror attack
On March 22, 2016, Ketevan Kardava – a foreign correspondent for the country of Georgia – was checking in for her flight when terrorists detonated two bombs at the Brussels airport. In one minute, she took these 12 photos. Remarkably everyone in them survived. She calls them her “photo heroes.”
This photo of Sebastien Bellin was the first that Ketevan Kardava posted to social media just after the Brussels Airport bombings.
“For me, it was most important to show everyone… the face of terrorism” Kardava told “48 Hours.”
Bellin and Kardava’s emotional reunion
"Photo Heroes"
A second angle of Sebastien Bellin on the ground. Note the blue scarf that’s near him.
“I remember seeing a scarf as well, lying on the ground. So I asked someone to bring over the scarf and to use it as a tourniquet,” Bellin told “48 Hours.”
Bellin and Kardava’s emotional reunion
"Photo Heroes"
Ketevan took this photo of Nidhi Chaphekar, a stewardess. The look of horror on her face epitomizes the terror from that day. This photo appeared on the front cover of newspapers all over the world.
"Photo Heroes"
A second photo of Chaphekar, a stewardess for Jet Airways, an Indian airline.
"Photo Heroes"
Amit Motwani, another Jet Airways employee, was with Nidhi Chaphekar when the bombs went off. He was injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
"Photo Heroes"
An injured man on the ground in the foreground. In the background, is a mystery man grabbing a luggage cart—a man Sebastien Bellin credits with helping to save his life.
"Photo Heroes"
Kardava captured these two soldiers arriving to the scene of the bombings.
"Photo Heroes"
In this photo, you can sense the chaos in the airport in the moments right after the blasts.
"Photo Heroes"
A man carries one of the injured from that day -- a documented act of kindness.
"Photo Heroes"
Luggage can be seen abandoned on the floor of the airport after people fled for their lives.
"Photo Heroes"
Kardava snapped this distorted photo of a piece of luggage and a cart during the hectic moments immediately after the bombs went off.
"Photo Heroes"
In this photo, you can see several shocked passengers surrounded by their luggage after the attacks.