Muslims in Metro Detroit are observing Ramadan, the holy month of prayer, charity, and fasting from sunrise to sunset and medical professionals say the practice can provide meaningful health benefits.

Watch Demetrios' report below

Ramadan fasting offers health benefits for Metro Detroit Muslims, Corewell Health doctor says

Yasser Hashwi, owner of Booza Delight in Dearborn Heights, has been fasting during Ramadan since he was a kid. His shop, which started with making ice cream at home, has grown into a new brick-and-mortar location with plenty of dessert options.

"I do avocado ice cream, I do some weird flavors you can't find anywhere else," Hashwi said.

Working in the food industry while fasting presents its own challenges.

"I always want to eat, so the first day or two days you make a mistake, you're like, ' Oh, I want to taste something because I'm making a recipe, and like 'Oh my God, fasting,'" Hashwi said.

But after years of observance, Hashwi says his body and mind have adjusted to the demands of the fast.

"Like I had my employee, she was drinking water next to me, and she goes, 'Yasser, I'm sorry.' I'm like, no, you're fine, it doesn't bother me," Hashwi said.

For Hashwi, he noted that the purpose of fasting goes beyond the physical.

"The whole experience of why you fast is really to feel about the people who are poor, who have no money to eat. So that gives you the feeling of how those people feel," Hashwi said.

Dr. Zafar Shamoon with Corewell Health is also observing Ramadan. He says fasting can have positive physiological effects a key reason intermittent fasting has grown in popularity.

"We go to ketosis phase, where instead of your body burning glucose, we're now burning stored fat, and what happens with that is obviously not only some weight reduction, but also it helps the gut rest, which also allows healing," Shamoon said.

Shamoon says fasting can also have positive mental effects.

"The brain itself is also more alert," Shamoon said.

For those continuing their fasts, Shamoon offered practical advice.

"Try not to eat too sugary foods in the morning, because you can have a crash later, and also the important thing is try to hydrate as much as you can in the morning," Shamoon said.

Above all, Shamoon and Hashwi say it is important to keep the spiritual meaning of Ramadan at the center of the observance.

"It's meant to bring you closer to God and remind you of those less fortunate," Shamoon said.

"Hopefully you follow that month for the next year until you do it all over again, so you stay in the right path of what God wants you to do," Hashwi said.

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A Downriver Michigan couple says they are stranded in the Maldives after military strikes in Iran prompted airspace closures across the Middle East, canceling their flight home and leaving them with mounting expenses and unanswered questions from federal officials.

Angela Reid booked the trip to celebrate her husband Baxter's improving health following a cancer diagnosis.

Watch the video report below: Flat Rock couple stranded overseas amid Iran conflict

"And it was beautiful and we were having the best times of our lives and then, Saturday happened," Angela Reid said.

On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel began military strikes in Iran. The closure of airspace in the Middle East canceled the Reids' flight on Monday that was supposed to take them from the islands to Dubai, then to France, before eventually heading home.

"Never in a million years when I booked this trip did I think anything like this was going to happen," Angela Reid said.

The couple is now stranded at a hotel in the Maldives, where they say expenses are building up.

"We've been paying about anywhere from $500 to $700 a night including food," Angela Reid said.

With no clear timeline for departure and concerns mounting, the couple says attempts to contact U.S. federal officials for assistance have offered little relief.

"And it's becoming exhausting because the more we ask questions, the less answers we get," Baxter Reid said. "I have cancer, so I have to get back to my appointments and I'm running out of out medication here."

Related video: Iran war sparks deep divisions among Michigan's Iranian American community Iran war sparks deep divisions among Michigan's Iranian American community

7 News Detroit reached out to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell about the family's concerns.

"I want people to be very cautious in thinking about international travel for the next few weeks," Dingell said.

For those already overseas, Dingell says travelers should sign up for the State Department's STEP program for updates, work with their airline on rebooking a different route and contact their local representatives in Congress.

"So we get a sense of the numbers of people that are stranded as we talk to the State Department about how do we fly people, so we cannot get out," Dingell said.

Dingell says her office is working to ensure Americans make it home safely.

"We'll work with you to try to assist you in all ways that are possible," Dingell said.

Related video: Gas prices jump in Michigan, stocks plunge as U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict enters day 5 Gas prices jump in Michigan, stocks plunge as U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict enters day 5

The Reids say they are willing to take any available route to get back.

"I mean, we're willing to fly wherever we have to fly to get home," Angela Reid said.

Rep. Dingell also confirmed that the U.S. State Department is working to utilize charter and military flights to bring people home from the Middle East.

Sen. Gary Peters office said they also stand ready to assist during emergencies and Michiganders in need of help should fill out an online form.

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Residents in Huron Township are raising concerns about pothole-covered dirt roads, with some demanding more permanent solutions.

The speed limit on South Huron Road is 45 miles per hour, but drivers say the conditions make that impossible.

Watch the video report below: Huron Township residents demand fixes for pothole-covered dirt roads

"You're trying to get from A to B and while you're on A, you're creeping," Michael Lassic, a Huron Township resident, said.

Drivers on Friday were navigating potholes lining the dirt road between Waltz and Clark. For some residents, the conditions are having serious consequences.

"I have a really bad back and just going to my doctor's appointments, like some days I can't even go out because the road is too bad, I can't get in the car," LaTonya Lassic, a Huron Township resident, said.

Gloria Brown, a mother of four and Huron Township resident, said she worries about emergency vehicles and her children's safety because of the bumpy roads.

"Watching these school buses try to go down these roads, it's terrifying knowing my kids are on there," Brown said. "It's not safe for anyone to go down."

Brown also works as a DoorDash driver and said driving on both South Huron and Clark roads has taken its toll on her vehicle.

"It's constant wear and tear our brakes, the list just goes on," Brown said.

The road conditions led Brown to create an online petition urging officials to find a solution.

"Like at least pave some of this, if not all of it," Brown said.

In a statement, the Wayne County Department of Public Services, which maintains those roadways, said:

"Wayne County continues to work collaboratively with the two townships that share this roadway regarding long-term paving and maintenance considerations. South Huron Road was most recently evaluated for paving in 2024, and following stakeholder input, the project was not advanced at that time."

The department also said freeze-thaw cycles and long periods of rain can cause gravel roads to deteriorate. Officials said they have serviced South Huron and Clark roads six times since mid-January.

Residents say those temporary fixes aren't holding up.

"Even when they do fill in the holes with the dirt, if it rains the next day, it's literally exactly the same," LaTonya Lassic said.

One resident said that while she opposes paving because of the area's farming community, something still needs to change.

"Wayne County needs to step up their job. They need to start doing what's right and get out here more often," Theresa Grant, a Huron Township resident, said.

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A Detroit native who once walked the halls of Cody High School is now on football's biggest stage.

Shawn Smith, a Cody High School alum, wrapped up his 11th season as an NFL official earlier this month when he served as the head referee for Super Bowl 60.

See the full story in the video below

From Detroit to the Super Bowl: NFL referee Shawn Smith reflects on his career

"Cody has meant a lot to me, it's just who I am," Smith said.

Smith was a football and track athlete at Cody before going on to play collegiate sports at Eastern Michigan University. He later transferred to Ferris State University.

"Where I didn't play football again. I shifted to track and then became an all-conference runner in the GLIAC," Smith said.

During high school and college, Smith was introduced to officiating intramural and recreational sports as a way to earn extra money. After earning his degree, he stepped away from officiating, but a conversation with a fellow referee brought him back.

"He said, 'Well why don't you get back into it?' and well maybe that might not be a bad idea," Smith said.

Smith began officiating high school football before eventually working his way up to the Division 1 and Division 2 collegiate levels. Then, in 2015, he received a life-changing opportunity.

"Pick up the phone, it's the NFL and they say 'Hey we want to bring you in. Are you excited?'" Smith said. "At that time, it was a position I had never worked before, but I was so ecstatic."

Smith has worked as an NFL official for 11 seasons, 8 of them as a referee. This season, he led the Super Bowl officiating crew an honor only 3 Black referees before him have ever held.

"To be the fourth to ever have that honor, it's huge. Being one of the first from Michigan or just being one of the first to Detroit to ever do it," Smith said.

Smith admitted the big game came with some extra nerves.

"I did get a little bit nervous for the coin toss and I've told many folks that once I got past the coin toss, I knew I was going to be OK," Smith said.

Off the field, Smith works with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

He was also formerly an auditor a career he says shares more in common with officiating than people might expect.

"Most folks don't want to see an auditor come and most folks don't care about refereeing. But one of the things we do is we have to be objective, we have to be independent, we have to be disciplined in our craft," Smith said.

Smith is also encouraging young people to pick up a whistle and give officiating a try.

"It helps build a lot of character and discipline and things that can carry you forward in life," Smith said.

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Detroit's historic Chinatown is moving closer to revival after final design concepts were released for the Peterboro Streetscape Project a more than $1 million effort to restore the cultural hub along the city's Cass Corridor.

Midtown Detroit Inc. unveiled the designs Monday, outlining plans to bring improved sidewalks, murals, lighting and plants to Peterboro Street between Second and Cass avenues, honoring the neighborhood's history.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Detroit's historic Chinatown takes step toward revival with final streetscape project designs

"It's so important that as we experience growth and redevelopment in our community that we really look to the cultural identity of that community," Melanie Markowicz, executive director of Midtown Detroit Inc., said.

Detroit's first Chinatown was located at Third Avenue and Porter Street before urban renewal forced it to relocate in the 1960s. The city's second Chinatown was near Peterboro and Cass, but faded over time.

Lisa Yee-Litzenberg, whose father Henry was known as the unofficial mayor of Detroit's Chinatown, has fond memories of working in the neighborhood.

"There were actually two Chinatowns. My dad had restaurants in both," Yee-Litzenberg said. "I rolled a lot of egg rolls, spent a lot of time getting to know the customers as a young kid," she said.

For Yee-Litzenberg, the area represented more than just a place to grow up.

"It was really fantastic as a place where I could feel safe and at home, and a place where I could proud of my culture," she said.

Markowicz said the streetscape project will help connect the neighborhood with other surrounding ones.

"This is going to be an exciting place that's going to connect downtown, Brush Park and the Cass Corridor and serve as an anchor that has vibrancy and cultural identity," Markowicz said.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang helped secure a $1 million state grant for the Chinatown revival.

"Whether it's the improved streetscape or the incorporation of Asian cultural elements, I think it's going to be a big difference for the business owners here, for residents around this area," Chang said.

Over the next year, Midtown Detroit Inc. will fundraise to raise an additional $1.4 million for the project.

Nearby businesses say they are looking forward to what the investment will bring.

"We're the last thing that's been built here in the last eight years, so to see investment coming in the community and putting more focus on this is going to bring more people that actually help support the community," Jonathan Hartzell, owner of Detroit Shipping Company, said.

Watch our February 2025 report about the revival below: Here's what's being done now to revive Detroit's Chinatown

If all goes well, construction is expected to begin next spring, with a potential completion in fall 2027.

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A popular Detroit food truck with a massive social media following has opened its first brick-and-mortar location on Stephenson Highway just south of 14 Mile Road in Madison Heights.

Detroit 75 Kitchen, owned by brothers Mike and Ahmad Nassar, welcomed crowds of customers Friday as they opened their first dine-in location.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Detroit 75 Kitchen opens first brick-and-mortar location in Madison Heights

"I was talking to some guys and they told me the food is really good, so I had to come try it," Matthew Farmer said.

Customer Jazmine Hardison has been following the business for years and became a big fan of their food.

"Oh man, I've tried just about every sandwich. This is the fish, so I finally marked off everything," Hardison said.

The sandwich shop started from humble beginnings in 2014, first operating as a food truck at the Nassar family's truck stop in southwest Detroit.

"The truck stop really wasn't doing too well and Mike, my brother, had this idea of what if I make sandwiches for truck drivers," Ahmad Nassar said. "And I thought he was really crazy, but it worked."

Their success led to a pop-up location at Oakland Mall in 2023 and now, their permanent shop in Madison Heights.

"It's validation that what you think and what you believe in, other people notice, and they care about it," Ahmad Nassar said.

Detroit 75 Kitchen has also become a viral sensation on social media. The business' social media pages have racked up hundreds of thousands of followers with videos showcasing their menu offerings and cooking lessons.

"It just came about and grew its own legs," Mike Nassar said. "When you're not putting a front or you're acting a certain way, it just shows and it goes like that. And it's all love."

Mike Nassar says their food, which is all made in-house, is what really draws people in.

"We're selling food and the food has to be on point, good every single time and it has to taste good and slap you in the face," Mike Nassar said.

Customers say seeing how the brothers have grown their business is inspiring.

"I'm always trying to support small business, so that's awesome to see them make it. That's great," Jeff Machus said.

The Madison Heights location is open Monday through Saturday. Their flagship location in Detroit will also continue to operate.

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Detroit high school students put their artistic talents on display Thursday, competing for more than $100,000 in college scholarships at the Detroit Pistons 21st annual Black Excellence Scholarship Event.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Detroit students win scholarships at Pistons Black Excellence event

The event, hosted by Pistons legend Rick Mahorn and the Detroit Pistons Foundation at the Icon on Detroit's riverfront, brought together high schoolers from across the city to showcase their creativity through poetry and artwork.

Kady Robinson-Larsosa, a senior at Marygrove High School, won the grand prize, a $25,000 Earl Lloyd Scholarship for her high-energy poem.

WEB EXTRA: Kady Robinson-Larsosa performs some of her winning poem WEB EXTRA: Kady Robinson-Larsosa performs some of her winning poem

"I feel like I've always tried my best to use my platform to uplift the beauty and brilliance of Black people," Robinson-Larsosa said.

She plans to attend the University of Michigan for communications and media.

"I have a full tuition scholarship, but I want to be able to make sure I don't have to worry about any money other than that point. I also want to make sure I'm able to pay it forward during my time in college," Robinson-Larsosa said.

Cherokee Barrow, also a senior at Marygrove, took home the $20,000 Earl Cureton Award for her colorful poster artwork displayed at the event.

"I really didn't think I'd ever be able to get an opportunity like this," Barrow said. "Like I'm an artist, but I'm kind of a lowkey artist."

Barrow said her work aimed to capture the spirit of black excellence that the event celebrates.

"I think excellence is just showing up as your best self and doing whatever you can to help others. So I tried to embody that in my artwork," Barrow said.

Mahorn said the event began as he looked for new ways to celebrate Black History Month and has grown into an annual tradition.

"To see young people get a chance and opportunity, instead of worrying about a bill. They're getting something to bring them closer to their goals," Mahorn said.

For participants like Leonard Shirley, a senior at Davis Aerospace Technical High School, the event provided a platform for authentic self-expression.

"I was actually able to be a voice and be heard for once, instead of suppressing myself as always, and I feel like I did my duty to serve my people," Shirley said.

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A Wyandotte family is desperately searching for answers after 25-year-old Tyler Bojanowski went missing last week.

Nicole Dillon last spoke to her son, Bojanowski, on Wednesday around 11:30 p.m. when he told her he was going to a friend's house. When he didn't return home the following day, she became worried.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Search for missing Wyandotte man reaches into second week

"His phone was going straight to voicemail. I knew something was wrong," Dillon said.

According to Wyandotte police, Bojanowski visited two different bars in the Wyandotte area Wednesday night.

Around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, police spotted his vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and went looking for it. Officers found the car crashed in the area of Enterprise Drive near the Best Western in Allen Park.

"However, he's not there. No occupants are in the vehicle. The airbags are deployed and the cellphone and wallet belonging to him are inside the vehicle," said Chief Archie Hamilton of the Wyandotte Police Department.

Hamilton said surveillance video shows Bojanowski walking away from the crash scene.

Nine hours after the crash, someone found his passport at Dingell Park in Ecorse. The park has cameras, but they weren't working at the time.

"Was it dropped by him or somebody else prior to this crash? Or was it dropped by him after the crash," Hamilton said.

On Monday, Wyandotte police deployed a drone at Dingell Park as part of their search efforts.

"We're looking for any signs that he may have been there or still is there," Hamilton said.

Bojanowski's mother shared that her son had suffered a brain injury from a previous car crash but remained in high spirits and was focused on his recovery.

"He was on his way to full recovery, getting back to work, which was his main goal. He just constantly talked about getting back to work," Dillon said.

As the search continues, Dillon is asking neighbors to check doorbell cameras and garages for any sight of her son.

"I'd rather have 100 wrong sightings to find one right," she said. "He's just everything to me."

Anyone with information about Bojanowski's whereabouts is encouraged to contact police.

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After more than six decades of serving Detroit's north end, Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q on Beaubien Street is preparing to close this Sunday, barring a last-second miracle, according to staff.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Long lines and frustrated customers as Detroit restaurant closes

The iconic barbecue spot, which first opened in 1964, has become a neighborhood staple known for its no-frills classics cooked in a pit. The restaurant serves everything from rib tips to full slabs, but customers say the real star is the sauce.

"The sauce is what kills me, I swear. Just give me the sauce and bread, I'm good," Marki D said.

Geneva Malone praised the restaurant's signature flavor profile.

"It's that special vinegar taste, you can't beat it," Malone said.

For many customers, Parks represents decades of memories and tradition.

"I grew up on Parks Bar-B-Q," Andrianne Purifoy said. "Our BBQ and everything, this was the place to come. Like I said, I've been coming over 50 years now."

Staff say the business is closing due to factors including declining traffic and the owner, Rod Parks Sr., becoming ill.

"This is his baby," Chanell McGilary, who works at Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q, said. "Being that he's sick, that made us fall behind on a lot of bills."

Since announcing the closure, customers have shown overwhelming support, with phone lines ringing constantly.

"Very like 'Wow, y'all really love us that much.' And they have, they've been showing us love," McGilary said.

However, the final days haven't been without challenges. Some customers who placed orders online through the restaurant's website arrived to find their orders couldn't be fulfilled.

"I wanted to come and support them for the last time, and this is what we get," Curtis Paris said.

"Somebody is going to show me how to either get my money back or give me a product," Takesha MacNear said.

Management says they're working to disable their online ordering system, and customers who paid but didn't receive food will be refunded in three to seven days.

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A high school senior from Birmingham is making a significant impact in her community by helping others feel confident through her nonprofit organization.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Seaholm High School student creates nonprofit to help people in need of clothing

Tessa Shane, a senior at Seaholm High School, founded The Donation Closet after stepping away from sports. Her journey began when she got involved with the New Jersey-based organization Hoodies for the Homeless in 2024.

"I started a Michigan chapter for that, and I was getting a lot of donations coming to my house, so I decided I needed a place to put everything," Shane said.

That place became the basement of her family's home.

"Figured nobody was really using it, and why not take the couch out and all the furniture, and buy some racks, and let's make use of this," said Jennifer Shane, Tessa's mother.

The growth Shane saw with Hoodies for Homeless inspired her to create The Donation Closet in the summer of last year, where she coordinates clothing donation drives for people in need.

"People can drop donations off at my house, or they'll drop it off at my high school," Shane said. "I'll go to my basement, and I'll sort everything, and then I have different racks from like kids, women's, men's, and then like the different sizes."

Since starting her nonprofit, Shane has collected around 10,000 garments, which she delivers to organizations around Metro Detroit for distribution. On Wednesday, she delivered donations to the Michigan Foster Care Closet in Ann Arbor, where children in foster care can shop for free.

"This is a place where they belong, and they come in our doors, and they know that. And they get to choose anything they want, and they don't worry about price, and they get to find their favorite characters," said Lynda Cooney, a board member at Michigan Foster Care Closet.

The organization serves between 120 and 150 youth each month, highlighting the critical need for donations.

"When people like Tessa come in and drop off large donations, it allows us to do what we do," Cooney said.

The Donation Closet has helped around 18 other nonprofits and even families impacted by the LA wildfires. Shane hopes her work encourages others to give back to their communities.

"It fills. me up with happiness that I'm able to help other people," Shane said. "I just think that everyone should do something and help the community."

When she goes off to college, Shane plans to create another chapter of The Donation Closet in that area.

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Dozens of students at Troy High School received hands-on training in CPR and automated external defibrillator use Thursday, learning life-saving skills in memory of a classmate who died from sudden cardiac arrest.

The training session was led by Jennifer Shea, manager of Corewell Health's Student Heart Check Program, who emphasized that anyone can save a life during an emergency.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Students at Troy High School learning life saving skills

"You don't have to be an adult, you don't have to be a medical professional," Shea said. "You just have to recognize that someone needs help, get 911 called and push hard and fast at the center of their chest until you have someone else come help you."

The training holds special significance for the Troy High School community. In May of last year, Bilal Ahmad was attending a freshman orientation event at the school when his mother, Farah Ahmad, received a devastating phone call from his friends.

"I just got a call from his friends that, you know, 'auntie, Bilal collapsed,'" Ahmad said.

Bilal suffered sudden cardiac arrest, which his mother says was contributed to by an infection that caused myocarditis. Despite life-saving measures being performed, the episode claimed his life.

"He loved his friends, he loved playing games and he loved helping others," said Imran Ahmad, Bilal's father.

Junior Leah Bosman said the tragedy has motivated the school community to take action.

"It was obviously incredibly sad for a lot of people, but we're trying to spin it to a week of joy and community of what we can all do together," Bosman said.

For many students, the training was their first real exposure to CPR techniques.

"You hear CPR all the time, like people talk about CPR, but not that many people actually know the steps do it," Bosman said.

Senior Danna Shkoukani said the training gave her confidence to help in an emergency situation.

"If I ever had to perform CPR, I now know the steps to take," Shkoukani said. "CPR can save lives just like Bilal's. I think it's amazing."

The Ahmad family expressed gratitude that the training was being held in honor of their son.

During Troy High School's upcoming Activist Week, students who participated in Thursday's training will share their new skills with classmates, with leaders from Corewell Health in attendance.

"I think that if he were here, he would want us to be doing this," Bosman said.

Corewell Health is also working to prevent tragedies before they happen. The organization will hold a free student heart screening event at Hazel Park High School on Feb. 7. To sign up, visit Corewell's website.

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As the Wayne County Airport Authority continues its investigation into a car that crashed into the McNamara Terminal, questions continue to swirl about the incident.

Video of a car inside Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal continues to draw attention as travelers checked into their flights Monday following Friday night's crash that injured six people.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Concerns raised over how a man drove his car into Metro Airport

The incident occurred when a man drove a Mercedes vehicle through one of the airport's entrances.

Cathy Smith, a traveler at the airport, was originally scheduled to fly that day but had moved her flight.

"I could've been there. I could've been in international getting checked in and this whole car came into the airport. Like what the heck happened," Smith said.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' report when the car crashed through the airport below: Mercedes slams into McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport

Many travelers expressed relief that more damage wasn't done.

"You know, it gets a lot busier during certain times. That could've been really bad and we don't need that at this terminal, at this airport because it's really nice, right? And you don't expect something like that to happen," Pete Fisher said.

The incident has left many wondering how such a breach could occur.

"It seems like it's a little too easy to be able to do something like that to harm large crowds of people," Fisher said.

While the intent of the driver remains unclear, the Wayne County Airport Authority says the man behind the wheel has been petitioned for medical evaluation.

Video: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport Interview: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport

Regarding changes to prevent similar incidents, airport officials declined to go on camera but provided a statement addressing their security review.

"As a result of this incident, WCAA is reviewing our security and safety measures and will make any improvements or adjustments as necessary. Additionally, WCAA continuously reviews safety and security measures for improvement in general," the statement read.

Andy Bartnowak, a former FBI supervisor, expressed surprise that someone was able to maneuver a car into the airport.

"Because the number of times I've been to Metro Airport, especially to drop somebody off, it's usually three lanes deep of vehicles," Bartnowak said.

While posts currently block the terminal's entrances, Bartnowak believes the airport needs to examine its vulnerabilities more thoroughly.

"Which in this case, could be as simple as adding some additional security barriers," Bartnowak said.

The Wayne County Airport Authority says any charges for the driver have yet to be determined.

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