Mock flight crash drill held on Chennai city outskirts

Chennai: Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials simulated a real-life flight crash scenario on the city outskirts on Saturday to assess the preparedness of the fire and rescue team, paramedical staffers, state police, fire and district administration, as part of their search and rescue exercise (Sarex).A dummy of an ATR flight was set on fire on a college campus in Vandalur, and different wings swung into action. While firefighters put out the fire and rescued "injured" passengers, paramedical teams gave first aid to them. Flyers with grievous injuries were rushed to the medical facility in ambulances, while traffic police made arrangements to send ambulances on priority.
Six observers from the Indian Air Force, Air Traffic Control, and DGCA assessed the preparedness during the mock drill. The AAI officials said Sarex was conducted by Chennai airport after a gap of eight years. While a similar mock drill was conducted closer to Chennai airport vicinity last year, Sarex is supposed to be conducted far away from the airport to predominantly assess the preparedness of the state machinery as well as the other stakeholders."The mock drill was conducted as if a flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai made a distress call to the Chennai air traffic controller, after which the pilot announced May Day. An Indian Air Force helicopter identified the crash site, after which a rescue operation was initiated," said Kala P Nair, AAI general manager.During the debriefing session after the mock drill, various lapses were also discussed, and how they should be taken care of during real untoward incidents. M Suresh, member (air navigation system), AAI, was also present during the mock drill.