A triennial emergency response plan exercise was conducted Wednesday at Kona International Airport.
The realistic exercise, a Federal Aviation Administration certification requirement, tested airfield disaster preparedness and response by simulating an airliner crash at the airport. Approximately 120 student volunteers from West Hawaii Explorations Academy and the Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana acted as casualties and injured aboard a Boeing 777-300ER. The exercise also included a fire suppression drill.
Participating agencies included the Kona International Airport at Keahole Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting team, Hilo ARFF, Kona and Hilo airport staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii County Civil Defense, Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Response, American Red Cross, USAF 15th Wing – Hickam, Hawaii Air National Guard, U.S. Army Pohakuloa, the University of the Nations and Kailua-Kona Community Emergency Response team, Delta Airlines, other tenant air carriers and other state agencies.