First responders undergo massive training at FLL to prepare for airplane crash

First responders took part in a massive training exercise at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday to make sure they were prepared for the unthinkable.

As part of “Operation Night Owl,” emergency crews are simulating a multi-aircraft collision involving over 200 passengers and crew.

The training happens every three years and is required by the Federal Aviation Administration for the airport to maintain it’s operating certification.

“We view this as a distinct opportunity to make sure that we are fully prepared and ready to go,” Mark Gale, the CEO of the Broward County Aviation Department, said.

The exercise is carried out at night on purpose. Those leading the exercise say not every emergency happens on a bright and sunny day, so it’s important know what to do no matter what time it is or what the weather is like.

On this night, first responders ran through the major drill with more than 200 potential victims. Ambulances lined up on the tarmac as if it were a real emergency, when they would attempt to get as close as possible to the injured to rush them to the hospital.

The mock emergency involved more than 300 volunteers, with some of them acting as injured victims on the tarmac. Actual flames burned nearby–a prop of burned fuselage.

“There’s over 40 different agencies tonight that are participating in this including 10 hospitals, two airlines, our partners from federal, state and local agencies,” Gale said.

But while the large-scale exercise happens once every three years, the airport also runs smaller drills every year.

“We are required to have smaller table top exercises at least once every 12 months, but we go above and beyond that even, and we even test other types of emergencies such as active shooter drills,” Gale said.

After the exercise ends , there will be evaluations and critiques to see where first responders can improve, and then they’ll put what was learned back into their planning process.

The hope is to never to be faced with such an emergency, but if it does, crews want the public to know: they’ll be ready.