Valencia Airport has carried out a general air-emergency drill to assess the procedures established in its Self-Protection Plan and to test the response and coordination capacity of the different groups involved in resolving an emergency of this nature.
All Aena airports have a Self-Protection Plan designed to minimize the consequences of an aircraft accident or any other incident at airport facilities, safeguarding human life and operational continuity.
Drill scenario
The exercise simulated a call from an aircraft in flight declaring an emergency due to engine failure, smoke in the passenger cabin and a general failure in the electronic systems preventing landing-gear deployment. The control tower alerted the fire service and the Operations Centre, which initiated the established communications plan.
Shortly before landing, the aircraft commander reported that, because of apparently toxic smoke in the passenger cabin, some passengers were losing consciousness. The aircraft eventually deployed the landing gear, landed without incident and was guided to a nearby stand where rescue operations began once it stopped.
Casualty assessment and emergency protocol
As for the casualty assessment, both fatalities and injuries of varying severity were simulated so all emergency-response groups could practise their action and coordination protocols.
During the simulation, emergency assistance rooms were activated, including the Family Room, which in a real accident would receive those affected with the aim of providing appropriate information and support.
Coordination by the Valencian Security Agency
Given the scale of the simulated accident, and after initial actions and assessment of the situation, emergency management was transferred to the Valencian Security and Emergency Response Agency of the Generalitat Valenciana. This allowed the transfer of command in incident coordination to be practised, as required by the applicable rules for these cases.
Groups taking part
In addition to personnel from Aena, airlines, handling agents, State Security Forces and Corps based in the terminal and other companies working at the airport, the following groups also participated:
- Generalitat Emergencies - 112.
- Firefighters from the Fire Consortium, Paterna and Torrent stations.
- Valencia City Council firefighters.
- Emergency Healthcare Service of the Regional Ministry of Health.
- Contact Person (PeCo) of the Valencian Security and Emergency Response Agency and its multidisciplinary team.
- Manises Civil Protection Association.
- Manises Local Police.
- Spanish Red Cross, Valencian Community.
- Traffic Unit of the Guardia Civil.
- Forensic police units of the Guardia Civil and National Police.
- Students and faculty from the Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy of the University of Valencia.
- Students and faculty from the intermediate vocational programme in Healthcare Emergencies at CIP FP La Costera in Xativa.
- Students and faculty from intermediate and higher vocational programmes in Emergencies and Civil Protection at IES Les Alfabegues in Betera.
- Students and faculty from vocational programmes at CIP FP Complejo Educativo de Cheste.
Commitment to safety and security
With this drill, involving around 250 people, Valencia Airport complies with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) rules and European Regulation 139/2014 on airport emergency planning, as well as the relevant national, regional and local legislation. The exercise also reflects Aena's commitment to providing a safe, high-quality service.
