Simulated plane crash prepares emergency units in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- An emergency exercise involving a simulated plane crash took place on Thursday at the Fayetteville Regional Airport.
Local health officials and first responders all had their emergency response skills tested during the realistic drill.
It may have been make-believe, but with multiple "casualties" on the runway, airport officials said it was about as real as it could get.
The simulated crash happened just after 10 a.m. More than 100 volunteers, including high school students and city employees, were strewn across the pavement. The volunteers were made-up to look like dying or injured passengers.
The exercise is meant to test first responders and emergency officials, as well as hospital emergency room teams.
For the volunteer victims, it was an interesting field trip.
"When you got this realism, when first responders come out they have some real things they can respond to," said Deputy Airport Director Tony Coleman.
The exercise ends at 2 p.m. Emergency observers said they will review the exercise for ways to improve their responses.
It's a drill for something they hope and pray will never happen.
