Spokane airport undertakes mock crash exercise

Emergency responders will practice their skills in a mock airplane crash on Thursday at Spokane International Airport.

The exercise from 10 a.m. to noon will involve the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Department along with local fire and rescue agencies that would respond with mutual aid in case of crash.

One objective of the exercise is to practice the airport’s emergency response plan and its protocols for working with outside agencies.

The personnel involved in the mock crash will arrive at the accident “scene” with equipment that would be needed in the case of a serious accident.

The exercise is being staged near the Postal Service processing and distribution center on the southeast side of the main runway.

More than 40 volunteers will act as crash victims to more than 40 emergency responders.

The crash training is required once every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration.