U.S. airports must run a full-scale disaster drill every three years. Kennedy Airport held its latest simulation last weekend.
The exercise staged a realistic plane crash to test emergency response. It brought together firefighters, police, hospitals, and airline staff.
Airport rescue crews train for the first critical minutes after a crash. Their goal is to reach the aircraft and suppress fire fast.
Hospitals prepared to receive a surge of simulated casualties. Triage teams practiced sorting patients by injury severity.
Volunteers played the roles of injured passengers. Makeup and props added realism to the scene.
Communication between agencies was a central focus of the drill. Coordinators tracked how quickly information moved between command posts.
Each drill ends with a detailed review of what worked and what failed. Airports use those findings to update their emergency plans.
The three-year cycle keeps crews familiar with large-scale coordination. Regular practice helps airports close gaps before a real emergency occurs.
