Air and land emergency services mobilised for air crash exercise

(HONG KONG, 22 November 2002) – Hong Kong's emergency services swung into action at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) early this morning during a simulated air crash on the North Runway. The "incident" was staged for the annual Exercise CLK, which is a mandatory aerodrome licensing requirement at HKIA. Coordinated by the Airport Authority (AA), the full scale emergency drill allows the participants to evaluate crisis procedures, personnel, communications and equipment in as realistic conditions as possible. According to this year's scenario, an A320 jet carrying about 160 passengers crashes while landing on the eastern approach to the North Runway. About 100 passengers are injured, 50 seriously. This year's participating airline Hong Kong Dragon Airlines provided the aircraft for the operation. Other equipment included a Government Flying Service helicopter, 19 Fire Services Department appliances, 19 ambulances, along with dozens of mini-buses and various fire-fighting and police emergency vehicles. A helicopter and passenger coaches ferried the simulated injured to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Yan Chai Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and Tuen Mun Hospital. As in previous years, participants included staff and volunteers from the Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Department, Fire Services Department, Police, Hospital Authority, Auxiliary Medical Service, Government Flying Service, Civil Aid Service, Airport Port Health Office, Immigration Department, St John Ambulance, Customs and Excise Department, Information Services Department and Home Affairs Department. Other business partners and franchisees participated or sent observers. A combined group of 54 journalism students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Baptist University provided simulated press corps to cover the event. "Exercise CLK 2002 was a resounding success," Acting AA Airport Management Director Wong Yiu-fai said. "Every year we try a different emergency scenario to ensure that the entire emergency response capacity is in peak form." The exercise began at 0652 hours and was stood down at 1050 hours.