Airport officials and security agencies conducted an anti-crash landing exercise yesterday, in which an old bus was burnt to simulate a crashed plane and ‘rescue’ operations were conducted on ‘passengers’
Mumbai international airport saw an anti-crash landing exercise yesterday, involving all officials and security agencies at the airport. The drill sought to simulate all conditions that can be experienced during an actual crash landing of an aircraft.
As the exercise began at 11.37 am, agencies like Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL), Intelligence Bureau (observers), medical team, fire engines, local administration and police were present. The entire medical staff was also at the spot. Pics/Rane Ashish
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In case of an emergency landing or a crash landing, the pilot informs the Air Traffic Control, who, in turn, alerts airport authorities of the flight’s situation. A full emergency is declared at the airport and all teams are present at the runway. This means that in the event of an actual crash, the entire airport team is already prepared to carry out rescue operations.
An old bus was set on fire to simulate a crash-landed plane on the runway. The CISF cordoned off the area falling within a 100-metre radius of the burning vehicle
The drill began at 11.30 am and involved all stakeholders Mumbai Airport International Ltd (MIAL), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), medical team, local police, fire brigade and intelligence bureau. An old bus was set on fire to replicate a crash-landed plane and ‘rescue’ operations of ‘passengers’ were conducted as a practice exercise.
The fire response team from MIAL reached the spot in 2.5 minutes after a distress call was made. By this time, the medical team which includes doctors and paramedics — had erected temporary tents to rescue the affected ‘passengers’
The passengers were employees of MIAL, who stood near the bus acting as if they had just been rescued from the aircraft. The primary runway of the airport remained shut for an hour during the drill, and all aircraft took off from the secondary runway.
The medical staff and the ambulances rushed to the spot and took the ‘passengers’ to ambulances, which went till outside the airport premises to reproduce an actual rescue operation during which victims would be taken to nearby hospitals (Cooper, Lilavati and SevenHills)
While there was an initial delay of 15 minutes in flights taking off, they were back on schedule an hour later. This runway is always shut for two hours every Friday for maintenance, and that was the reason for conducting this exercise in this window. The exercise concluded by 2 pm.
The flames were doused after an hour of struggle
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