Aberdeen International Airport successfully hosted a large‑scale multi‑agency emergency training exercise on Wednesday 18 February, taking place between 7pm and 9pm and simulating a complex aircraft incident to test regional preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
The evening scenario recreated a challenging aircraft‑related incident on the airfield, involving multiple simulated casualties and a coordinated response from emergency services across the region.
Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service took part alongside the Aberdeen International Airport Fire and Rescue Service, working together to rehearse how they would jointly manage a major incident at the airport.
The exercise formed part of Aberdeen International Airport’s statutory emergency planning requirements, providing a realistic environment for testing operational procedures, communication processes, and multi‑agency coordination under night-time conditions.
Additional partners involved included local resilience teams, specialist response units, and members of the wider airport community.
Robert Paterson, Operations Director at Aberdeen International Airport, said: “Safety is our highest priority, and exercises like this are essential to ensure we remain prepared for any scenario. Conducting the exercise during evening hours added an additional layer of realism and complexity, helping all teams rehearse under conditions they could face in a real emergency.
“The professionalism and collaboration shown by everyone involved demonstrate the strength of our region’s emergency response arrangements. We are grateful to all partners for their commitment and their continued focus on keeping our airport and our passengers safe.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Kenny Collie said: “Thank you to the Aberdeen International Airport for hosting this important multi-agency exercise. Our firefighters train to ensure they have the suitable skills and knowledge to respond to a wide variety of incidents.
“Unique exercises like this give us the opportunity to train in the most realistic environments possible, while strengthening our operational readiness and working with emergency partners to keep communities safe.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Training exercises such as this are vital and prepare our staff how to respond to major incidents, including large-scale emergencies at airfields.
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“Our Special Operation Response Team (SORT) are grateful to our partners at Aberdeen International Airport and our emergency service colleagues at Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for sharing invaluable insights. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them in the future.”
The scenario enabled teams to practise firefighting and rescue operations, casualty care, command and control structures, and integrated multi‑agency response plans. It also supported the airport’s ongoing regulatory assurance processes.
Aberdeen International Airport extends its thanks to all participating agencies for their cooperation and dedication to safety and preparedness.
