The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) conducted a crash and rescue exercise (CREX) on Friday, August 4, to enhance the capabilities of its rescue personnel in responding to emergencies occurring at or within the vicinity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Different rescue units attend to an airplane crash site as part of the Crash and Rescue Exercise (CREX) 2023 organized by the Airport Emergency Response Organization at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Aug. 4, 2023. (Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
The full-scale emergency CREX included a mass casualty event where an Airbus A319 aircraft had an emergency after losing thrust on its engine when a flock of domestic pigeons crossed the runway and got ingested into it during the take-off run.
The scenario tested the readiness of the responders in attending to 72 injured passengers and eight fatalities.
“This exercise is to ensure that the prescribed plans, guidelines, and organizational set-up of the NAIA Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) 8th Edition 2023 will adequately and effectively address emergencies occurring at or within the immediate vicinity of NAIA,” the MIAA said.
MIAA Officer-in-Charge Bryan Co. earlier stated that this year’s exercise was “another first in the history of the MIAA” as they will simulate the management and handling of relatives of victims of the aircraft accident, which “was never done before.”
The exercise was held as airport authorities of member-states to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are required to conduct bi-annually, a full-scale airport emergency exercise and a table-top exercise during the intervening year.
These are done to ensure that airport authorities are attuned to the latest recommendations under the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (ICAO-SARPS) manuals, the MIAA explained.
MIAA said that both the ICAO-SARPS and the AEP define lines of authority and organizational relationships between first and secondary responders and support groups, and show how all actions should be coordinated during an airport emergency.
It added that the two documents also define responsibilities to organizations and people for carrying out specific actions in responding in an airport emergency situation. Primary responders in an in-airport emergency in NAIA are the MIAA Rescue and Firefighting and Medical units.