Hong Kong Airport tests emergency response in aircraft crash and rescue exercise

2023-11-09

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) held the aircraft crash and rescue exercise this morning on the new North Runway to test the airport’s ability in handling a multifaceted scenario involving an aircraft crash and subsequent chemical leak into the cabin.

Over 1,000 representatives from approximately 20 organisations and government departments joined the exercise, with Hong Kong Airlines as participating airline. Volunteers role-played as passengers and families of the affected passengers.

The exercise started at 0215hrs when it was simulated that an engine of an arrival flight struck the runway and caught fire during landing on the North Runway. According to the scenario, the crash caused a leak of chemical substance, suspected to be detergent, into the main cabin, causing eye and skin irritation to some passengers and crew members on board. Immediately Air Traffic Control Tower activated the crash alarm while Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) activated the Airport Emergency Centre to facilitate coordination and communications among various departments and organisations. Emergency services including the Fire Services Department (FSD) and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) soon arrived at the incident site to effect firefighting and rescue, render medical care, casualty conveyance and other support. The FSD’s HazMat Team was deployed to carry out decontamination procedures for the injured at the new Decontamination and Rescue Facility.

Simulation of handling fatalities and injured persons was conducted. The injured persons were 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, Hong Kong Airlines, FSD, HKPF and the Air Accident Investigation Authority conducted a simulated press conference jointly to provide updates on the incident and rescue operations. Over 30 students from six local universities role-played as reporters. The exercise stood down at 0645hrs.

Steven Yiu, Executive Director, Airport Operations of AAHK, said, “Safety is always the top priority at HKIA. With passenger traffic continuing to recover steadily, the exercise provides a valuable opportunity for the airport community to test its readiness in response to contingencies and the ability to manage crises. This is the second exercise held on the new North Runway and the first time that the FSD’s HazMat Team activated the new Decontamination and Rescue Facility for a Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Agent Incident scenario.

The successful completion of the exercise demonstrated our readiness.”

The crash exercise was conducted according to aerodrome licensing requirements. HKIA conducts drills, exercises and training seminars regularly, 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