DTW operations normal after car crash at McNamara Terminal

Operations at Detroit Metro Airport have returned to regular as of Saturday morning, Jan. 24, after a automotive crashed into the doorway to the McNamara Terminal on Friday night, Jan. 23, based on the Wayne County Airport Authority.

The crash occurred Friday round 7:30 p.m. and the car struck a Delta Air Strains ticket counter, the Wayne County Airport Authority mentioned in a press release. statement.

In response to police, the motive force has been arrested. Six folks had been additionally handled by the authority’s fireplace brigade.

Here is what you have to know in regards to the state of affairs.

What occurred at DTW’s McNamara Terminal?

In response to WCAA, a automotive drove into the doorway of the McNamara Terminal and crashed right into a ticket counter.

Movies circulating on-line present a Mercedes pulling into the airport and a person in a Detroit Lions jersey being taken into custody.

Work crews will nonetheless be cleansing the world across the damaged entrance Friday night round 10:15 p.m.

What precipitated the crash?

The investigation into the state of affairs is ongoing. The suspect stays in custody and fees haven’t but been decided, Matt Morawski, WCAA director of communications and exterior affairs, advised the Free Press Saturday morning.

Are flights affected?

As of Saturday morning, airport operations have returned to regular, Morawski mentioned.

The affected door and ticket counter have been boarded up, Morawski mentioned. Different doorways and ticket counters within the McNamara Terminal are nonetheless accessible.

Detroit Metro Airport’s online flight status tracker reveals Delta flights flying out of McNamara Terminal departed and arrived Saturday morning.

Witness hears loud noise

Michele Wheaton, 54, of Pontiac, mentioned she had simply flown again from a visit to Puerto Rico with family members Friday night when the crash occurred.

She was on her strategy to the arrivals corridor to be picked up when she heard a loud bang with sounds of steel and glass, she mentioned.

“I finished and regarded round, ‘Did anybody hear this?’” she mentioned. “Since you heard the loud crash after which all you heard was folks screaming.”

Wheaton noticed obvious safety officers operating, she mentioned. One shouted, saying a automotive had crashed within the Delta space and asking if anybody had referred to as 911.

Entrance to DTW McNamara Terminal broken after automotive crashes by way of doorways

Crews work to restore an entrance to Detroit Metro Airport’s McNamara Terminal after a automotive crashed into the terminal on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Along with her baggage already in hand, Wheaton booked it exterior the constructing and for her journey, she mentioned. She advised her mom to drive away.

Though particulars of the incident haven’t been launched, Wheaton expressed unhappiness over the night’s occasions and the damaging incidents that happen in public gathering locations.

“It is so unhappy that you may’t journey, that you may’t go to the films or to church or to the grocery retailer,” she mentioned.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.