SBN sees new Federal Inspection Service Facility

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A new Federal Inspection Service Facility opened up at the South Bend International Airport on Tuesday.

The new facility will allow commercial flights from outside of the country to fly directly into the airport -- in a historic first.

SBN has already had 132 international flights touch down over the years but until recently they’ve all been private jets.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Assistant Director, Jack Bebinger, says the new facility is a major improvement.

“It allows them to bring in international flights of a kind that you’re going to be seeing today, where I believe there’s 160 people coming in. They’ll have the facilities and the people to process them and to make sure it’s all done in a secure fashion.”

A flight carrying the Liverpool Football Club was the first international commercial flight to land at SBN.

The Liverpool Football Club flew in from England in preparation for their Friday evening match at Notre Dame Stadium. The competitive soccer match is a first for the stadium in its 90-year history.