Calm At BWI This Thanksgiving, Despite Worldwide Travel Alert
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Americans remain on alert worldwide for terror threats. Even with those fears, travel this Thanksgiving went smoothly in the air.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren reports.
Despite that worldwide travel alert, it was calm at BWI--a light travel day this Thanksgiving.
After the State Department urged extra vigilance, many airports ramped up with extra, more visible security.
"I would say follow the advice from the federal government. They issued a travel advisory for a reason. There are, obviously, concerns around the world," said Governor Larry Hogan.
At BWI Marshall, Thanksgiving travel was smooth--no crowds, little fuss for Kellsie Kleiner, who arrived from Houston.
"I expected that nobody would be here because it's Thanksgiving, and who wants to travel on Thanksgiving," said Kleiner. "It didn't seem like there was extra security at all."
The only recent incident here happened last week when police removed four passengers from a Spirit Airlines flight. WJZ has now learned a fellow passenger saw one of them make calls--not in English--and get a text with the word "dynamite." Authorities later found nothing, and some complained they were profiled.
"People who are perceived to be Middle Eastern or Muslim or Arab are subject to this kind of extra scrutiny on flights," said Ibrahim Hooper, Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesperson.
Leaders have urged greater caution since the terror attacks in Paris and ISIS threats to D.C. and New York City.
"Our counterterrorism, intelligence, Homeland Security and law enforcement professionals at every level are working overtime," said President Obama. "If you see something suspicious, say something--that's always helpful--but otherwise, Americans should go about their usual Thanksgiving weekend activities."
More Americans traveled this holiday than any Thanksgiving since 2007, according to industry trade group Airlines for America.
And if you travel the Bay Bridge, the MDTA says the least congested times are before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.