A triennial emergency response plan exercise will be conducted by the Hawai’i Department of Transportation Airports Divisions on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kona International Airport at Keāhole.
The exercise is a Federal Aviation Administration certification requirement that tests airfield disaster preparedness and response. During the drill, an airliner crash will be simulated at the airport.
A fire suppression drill will be part of the exercise at about 10 a.m.
Students from the West Hawai’i Explorations Academy charter school and the Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana will participate in the exercise, acting as casualties and injured aboard a Boeing 777-300ER.
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Agencies participating in the drill include the Kona International Airport at Keāhole Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting team, Hilo ARFF, Kona and Hilo Airport Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, Hawai’i Police Department, Hawai’i Fire Department, Hawai’i County Civil Defense, Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Response, American Red Cross, USAF 15th Wing- Hickam, Hawai’i Air National Guard, U.S. Army Pohakuloa, the University of the Nations, Kailua-Kona Community Emergency Response teams, Delta Airlines, other tenant air carriers, and other state agencies.
Operations at the airport will continue as normal. Officials ask motorists to be aware of additional emergency vehicles in the area, including police and security personnel along Keāhole Airport Road.
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