The Tenerife North-City of La Laguna Airport conducted a comprehensive simulation of an air accident today as part of its Emergency Plan, testing the aerodrome’s response capability and coordination with external aid resources.
The exercise simulated an accident involving an aircraft from the fictitious company A Airways, arriving from Gran Canaria Airport. As part of the simulation, the plane veered off the runway during landing, sharply turning left and ultimately colliding with the airport’s perimeter fence, coming to a stop on the external service road.
Upon observing the accident, the Control Tower promptly notified the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (SSEI) and activated the Airport Emergency Plan by informing the Operations Center. The Main Command Post (PMP) and the Advanced Command Post (PMA) were established, with external assistance being requested as per the Plan.
As the drill unfolded, the Civil Protection plans of the affected Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands were activated, and the emergency command was transferred from the Airport management to the General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands.
The accident led to a sizable fire on the aircraft. After the firefighters extinguished the fire, a spill of hydraulic fluid and fuel was discovered, prompting the fuel removal. An electric car nearby also caught fire. Following the fire suppression, the coordination for rescuing the victims commenced.
The seriously injured were promptly transported to a hospital, while spaces for lightly injured and uninjured individuals, including passengers and crew, were activated to accommodate stable individuals and provide them with psychological and medical care. Additionally, the family room and press room 1 were activated. Once the situation was under control and the area declared safe, the command posts concluded the drill.
Alongside Aena personnel and airport tenant companies, the General Emergency Directorate of the Government of the Canary Islands, including the Emergency Coordination Center 112 and the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Government Delegation, Tenerife Air Sector, National Police, Civil Guard, Local Police, and Civil Protection of the La Laguna City Council, Fire Consortium, Bhelma VI, Red Cross, Binter, Fly Luxury, CIFP Los Gladiolos, Air Hostess, and the College Social Work Officer of S/C de Tenerife participated in the drill.
Through this exercise, Tenerife North-City of La Laguna Airport ensures compliance with the regulations of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) concerning emergency planning, encompassing all action procedures and protocols for requesting and coordinating external assistance.
