HKIA Tests Emergency Response in Aircraft Crash and Rescue Exercise on the Reconfigured Centre Runway

All three runways at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) are planned to commence operation by the end of this year. In accordance with aerodrome licensing requirements, HKIA conducted an aircraft crash and rescue exercise for the first time on the reconfigured Centre Runway this morning.

Over 1,000 representatives from more than 20 organisations and government departments joined the exercise, with Cathay Pacific as the participating airline. Volunteers role-played as passengers and families of affected passengers.

The exercise started at 0200hrs when a simulated departure flight with 120 people aborted takeoff on the Centre Runway when it was about to take off. A main landing gear collapsed when the aircraft was braking. The aircraft fuselage crashed onto the runway surface and the starboard side engine caught fire. Air Traffic Control Tower personnel immediately activated the Crash Alarm while Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) activated the Airport Emergency Centre to facilitate coordination and communication among various departments and organisations. Emergency services including the Fire Services Department (FSD) and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) promptly arrived at the incident site to effect firefighting and rescue, render medical care, casualty conveyance and other support.

In the simulated scenario, injured passengers and crew members were rescued and conveyed to four public hospitals, while those uninjured were transferred to the Passenger Reception Centre at the airport. After immigration and customs clearance, the uninjured passengers were received at the Family Reception Centre set up at the airport for the exercise.

AAHK, the Air Accident Investigation Authority, Cathay Pacific, FSD and HKPF conducted a simulated joint press conference to provide updates on the accident details and rescue operations. Over 20 students from 6 local universities role-played as reporters. The exercise stood down at 0600hrs.

Steven Yiu, Executive Director, Airport Operations of AAHK, said, “Hong Kong International Airport always attach great importance to safety. The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for AAHK and the airport community, participating government departments and organisations to test and familiarise themselves with emergency procedures and test our preparedness for contingencies on the reconfigured Centre Runway under three-runway operation. We thank all parties for their active participation in this exercise, and getting prepared for the three-runway operation.”

HKIA conducts over 100 drills, exercises and training seminars annually. We have also added 50 additional exercises for the operation of the three-runway system, covering a variety of operational disruption and emergency scenarios including severe weather, system failure, equipment malfunctions, public health incidents and security incidents, among others.

Active participants in today’s exercise included: (in alphabetical order)

     Government departments
 

• Air Accident Investigation Authority
• Auxiliary Medical Service
• Civil Aid Service
• Civil Aviation Department
• Customs & Excise Department
• Department of Health
• Fire Services Department
• Home Affairs Department
• Hong Kong Police Force
• Hospital Authority and the following hospitals:

-           North Lantau Hospital

-           Princess Margaret Hospital

-           Queen Elizabeth Hospital

-           Yan Chai Hospital
 

• Immigration Department
• Information Services Department
  
  Business partners
• Airport Chaplaincy
• Aviation Security Company Limited
• Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
• Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited
• Hong Kong Airport Services Limited
• Raffles Medical Group
  
  Volunteers
• Hong Kong Red Cross
• Hong Kong St. John Ambulance
  
  
  
  
  Emergency services including the Fire Services Department and Hong Kong Police Force promptly arrive at the incident site to effect firefighting and rescue, render medical care, casualty conveyance and other support. 


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