Air Travelers React To Brussels Terror Attacks
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Travelers were met with extra security as they arrived at New York City's three major airports Tuesday morning following the deadly attacks in Brussels.
National Guard members positioned inside the international Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy Airport around 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. The Port Authority Police Department stepped up security at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports after at least two dozen people were killed in attacks at an airport and subway station in Brussels.
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CBS2's Lou Young asked air passengers how they felt about traveling on Tuesday afternoon. They knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Well you worry -- now you're not safe anywhere," said Amy Biccollini of Ardsley.
"I'm going to try not to think about it," said Monica Strang of Lake Carmel.
The Brussels attack, of course, did not involve an airplane. Rather, it involved an open assault on a terminal building – bombs detonated just inside the airport and outside the security screen.
Thus, our zone of anxiety has been expanded yet again in an unsettled world.
"It can happen anywhere and you have to be careful and be alert, you know," said Brian Quinn of Wisconsin.
Samuel from Queens was grateful to see the extra security as he arrived at Kennedy Airport for his flight to Europe.
"Hats up to these people who risk their lives every day and take care of us," he said. "They're risking their lives and that's how we feel so safe."
"You have more military walking around with their guns, you have more police inside," chauffeur Michael Gibs told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "You don't see that every day but it's a good thing, it makes you safer. Anything can happen, but I feel safe knowing that they are out and doing their job."
Some international travelers said their awareness is heightened, but they are undeterred.
Susan and her sister, Ellen, watched coverage of the attacks on their flight to New York from Paris. She said while they're happy to be home, they're not worried about another trip they have planned in the beginning of April.
"It's tragic but that's not going to stop me from flying. I'm still going to travel," Susan said. "We flew with Delta and the security was excellent, we felt very safe with them. It was like a double security, we went through the normal one, but then there was additional security where they again checked the luggage and you have to take your shoes off and go through the scanner again."
"We've got to get on with it, it's something we're kind of accustomed to," Selwin Machet of Johannesburg said.
Travelers in New York took note of the stepped-up security at JFK's Terminal 4, and the extra Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officers walking the drop-off zone at LaGuardia – a major domestic hub.
Even the extra Westchester County police officers at a smaller airport in White Plains, where a heavy metal ballistic curtain was installed on the parking garage after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The curtain was a reminder of how carefully security people have been thinking about our security.
"We take a lot of things for granted a lot of times in the U.S. Terrorist attacks is one of them," said Deonte Long of Los Angeles. "Seeing the armored truck there makes me feel a little safer. Seeing the guys walk around makes me feel a little safer."
But while people may indeed feel a little safer, travel is never risk-free. CBS2's Young talked with one world traveler about the idea of checking cars as they approach the airport.
"I've been in countries around the world where they're done that and I'm not sure it's that effective, you know," said Peter Smith of Australia. "For the few seconds that they've got to give your car a check, I'm not sure they do a really good job. But I'm not sure they can do too much more."
Some have also suggested moving the security checkpoints outside the terminal building, but experts have said that would only move the soft target outside – as terrorists are out after people, not buildings.
A man from Westchester County traveling with his family said in fact, there no way to make an airport 100 percent terror-proof.
"You can't really shake down everybody that comes in here, you can try, but then you're going to have a whole ruckus of civil rights and humanitarian rights because people don't feel human anymore," he said.
Others agreed.
"The more security the better but there is only so many checkpoints you can go through," said Anthony Rodale, who arrived in New York from Dubai.
"There's so many attacks going on right now it's hard to be careful," Charles Blake from Brooklyn said.
"If it's going to happen, it's going to happen," one traveler at Newark Liberty International Airport said. "Maybe they catch it, maybe they don't."
The Islamic State group is claiming responsibility for the attacks in Belgium, saying its extremists opened fire in the airport and "several of them'' detonated suicide belts in response to the country's support of the international coalition arrayed against it. The posting by the group's news agency said another suicide attacker detonated in the metro.
The explosions came just days after authorities arrested Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam. After his arrest, Abdeslam told authorities he had created a new network and was planning new attacks.
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