RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) conducted a mock emergency exercise at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on Thursday.

The mock exercise to check preparedness of the agencies concerned to deal with a passenger plane with fire on one of its engines while landing at the airport was termed an opportunity for the services to work together effectively.

Rescue firefighting and medical services of the CAA and twin cities were mobilised. Through the exercise, the management of the airport also tested the appropriateness of its Crisis and Emergency Response Plan (CERP).

Mohammad Adnan Khan, the airport manager, said: “Today’s mock exercise was a good opportunity for our staff to check our preparedness, which was good.”

When asked whether he was satisfied with the preparedness for such scenario, he said: “Yes, our system was almost perfect and staff was well prepared.”

No flight schedule was disturbed due to exercise held for the first time at new airport

The exercise is conducted after two years in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and practices. The exercise also serves to determine the effectiveness of the IIA command and control system for managing incidents and to test the communication systems and emergency resources in place.

The exercise simulated the scenario of an aircraft crash in phases of fuel firefighting and rescue operations separately. Airport firefighting engines reached the scene within two minutes and extinguished the fire within 30 seconds. The rescue of 40 mocked injured passengers and 148 passengers was completed in 30 minutes.

The exercise was organised in collaboration with PIA, ASF, airlines operating committee, ground handling agencies, Rescue 1122, CDA and others.

“We are thankful to PIA which provided a Boeing 777 to the CAA for the mock exercise,” said the airport manager.

The exercise was evaluated and appreciated by neutral umpires from aviation and medical professionals.

The simulated accident scenario itself involved a Boeing 777 Tango Air travelling with 194 mock passengers and 12 crew members on board. While flying over Islamabad, the crew reported a major engine fire to the air traffic control and a full emergency was declared, triggering the CERP.

A hard landing at the IIA caused the right wing to collapse and the aircraft to veer off the runway, eventually coming to a standstill on taxiway Foxtrot. As a result, 40 passengers suffered injuries and six fatalities were reported.

Airport fire vehicles reached the scene within 45 seconds, started firefighting and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, triage and collection area were set up by the medical department to prioritise and transport critically injured casualties. Air ambulances also reported on the scene.

In addition, a group of actors and volunteers participated in the exercise in the role of affected passengers allowing first responders to practice important processes such as triage, treatment, transportation and care of the affected passengers.

According to the airport authorities, no flight schedule was disturbed due to the exercise held for the first time at the new airport.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2019