Emergency drill at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport

A large-scale emergency exercise was held at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) in cooperation with the fire service and the Dahme-Spreewald district.

 

The exercise, which simulates a plane crash, involved 200 emergency workers and 80 extras, with the aim of improving coordination between airport and local services in the event of an emergency. The initiative, requested by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), did not interfere with flight operations and aims to ensure that operators are prepared for possible crisis situations.

 

 

The Icaro emergency exercise is a so-called "full-scale exercise" in accordance with the guidelines of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Usually, it is carried out every two years.

 

This year, the following scenario was expected: the pilot of an approaching aircraft reports problems to the control tower. Under the emergency procedures in place at the airport, an "air emergency" is declared and the fire service and operational services are put on alert. As part of the exercise scenario, the aircraft crashes outside the boundaries of the airport. The emergency services are then directed to the accident site, where firefighting and rescue operations take place.

At the same time, passengers who witnessed the accident and their closest relatives are being cared for inside the terminal. The objectives of the exercise include the rescue and recovery of the wounded and dead, technical assistance and coordination between internal and external emergency services both on site and in the crisis management team.