Mock Plane Crash Drill At Rajkot International Airport Simulates Emergency Response
Rajkot: Rajkot International Airport in Hirasar witnessed a high-intensity mock drill on Tuesday morning, simulating a plane crash and testing the airport’s emergency response capabilities. The drill, which began at 9:58 AM, involved a staged scenario where a departing flight, codenamed “ABC Airlines,” suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff and crash-landed near the terminal.
The simulation created a realistic crisis environment. Fire engulfed the mock aircraft, and 17 passengers and crew members were reported “injured” as part of the scenario. A full emergency was declared, triggering a rapid multi-agency response.
Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Airport Authority of India’s fire services, Rajkot police, 108 ambulance teams, and staff from both civil and private hospitals took part. In total, 182 responders were deployed, showcasing coordinated rescue, firefighting, and medical evacuation operations.
The staged crash site, located near Hirasar on the Rajkot–Ahmedabad Highway, drew attention from onlookers and briefly caused concern among passengers at the airport. The situation was later clarified as a scheduled safety exercise. Officials confirmed that the objective of the drill was to assess the effectiveness of disaster response protocols, coordination between emergency units, and readiness to manage mass-casualty scenarios. All 17 simulated casualties were evacuated and “treated” as per protocol.
The drill comes in the wake of a recent aviation tragedy involving an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London. In light of that, Tuesday’s exercise carried additional significance, reinforcing preparedness amid growing emphasis on aviation safety.
Authorities noted that the drill was successful in identifying both strengths and areas for improvement in emergency operations at the airport. Such exercises, they added, are essential to ensuring swift, organized action during real-life crises.