Thursday November 20th, 2014
Sharjah, 19 Nov, 2014: Simulating the crash landing and fire on board an airplane that carried 80 passengers at the Sharjah International Airport, the authorities tested on Wednesday, the preparedness of the airport to respond to emergencies. The scenario was conducted on An Airbus 300 type aircraft with approximate 80 passengers that developed a hydraulic failure and subsequently forced with directional control problems during the landing phase of the flight. Control of the aircraft was lost and the aircraft skid the runway surface and stopped in the Main Apron.A good number of persons from the Airport staff, different entities working at the airport, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Police Command, Sharjah Police Aviation, various hospitals, Sanid (robust volunteer emergency response), civil defense and other agencies volunteered to conduct the mock drill which was enacted under the supervision of the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department and Sharjah Airport Authority.HE Sheikh Khalid bin Isam Al Qassimi, Chairman of Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah, HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah International Airport Authority, Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director Operations in Department of Civil Aviation, and a number of senior officials witnessed the drill.HE Sheikh Khalid bin Isam Al Qassimi, Chairman of Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah stated “The Department of Civil Aviation was keen to implement this exercise in accordance with the highest international standards and the intensive preparations. This called for holding a number of coordination meetings with all parties participating in this exercise and stress the roles designated to each of them”.He mentioned that:” The aim of the activity was to test a multi agency response to an aircraft accident within the premises of Sharjah International Airport”.HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah International Airport Authority Said:” such these exercises help to raise the level of efficiency of airport entities, staff, and enhance coordination and collaboration with various agencies and organizations, give them the confidence and experience to make correct decisions in such situations, as well as full collaboration between the various government entities and all sections at the airport, which confirms its readiness to face any emergency situation in the future”.
