Atlanta mayor orders increased security at airport

Image 1 of 4

Snipers, SWAT teams, and more officers visibly toting weapons will be a part of what Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed called a "new normal" at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. 

The change came one day after three men took explosives into an unsecured area of a Belgium airport and killed dozens. 

Reed has told his chief to double the number of SWAT team members and tactical officers.

He said he wants some of those officers to carry during their patrols, so they can be ready in an instant to stop an attacker.

Airport officials are also examining a physical change to the unsecured front section of the airport, where you go through screening. That section is frequently congested with hundreds of people packed in queue lines. There could be chaos right there if a terrorist were to try to execute an attack. 

One potential physical change would be to design a pre-check location - where identities could be examined and space created in order to avoid masses of vulnerable citizens. 

The mayor said an analysis is being done to pinpoint how the Brussels terrorists carried out their attack, and following that, adjustments will be made.

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert for people planning to travel to Europe.

Meanwhile, people returning on flights from abroad Wednesday evening said they were glad to have touched down safely after the Brussels attacks.

"It's very scary," said Alexander Swenson, who arrived from the United Kingdom to the international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International. "I saw at least one bag. I pointed it out to somebody, it was left unattended, and it scared me," he said, over his experience flying from the Manchester airport.

Various travelers also told FOX 5 there were a large number of armed military personnel and long lines at European airports. 

The U.S. State Department issued the following alert to Americans with travel tips on their website. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/europe-travel-alert.html