Airport Puts Multimodal Transport Links to the Test at Annual Crash Exercise

(HONG KONG, 12 December 2008) – Air, sea and land transportation were mobilised together on a large scale for the first time during the annual aircraft crash and rescue exercise, held today at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). All three modes of transportation were successfully deployed to carry injured passengers to nearby hospitals.

In addition to ambulances, the exercise incorporated a helicopter from Government Flying Services and a rescue vessel from the Fire Services Department to transport casualties. The helicopter airlifted the seriously wounded to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital while the rescue vessel ferried the injured to the Tuen Mun Fireboat Station and then to Tuen Mun and Pok Oi hospitals.

This morning's drill began with flight "XX1234" from Tokyo to Hong Kong simulating an engine of the aircraft caught fire after landing on the South Runway at 0519 hours. Rescue work swung into action when Airport Fire Contingent activated the crash alarm immediately. The first emergency personnel arrived at the scene at 0521 hours.

The Airport Emergency Centre was activated immediately to facilitate close communication, effective coordination and prompt action among all concerned parties.

Of the 251 persons on board, 101 simulated passengers were injured and a total of 31 fatalities were reported. The rescue team immediately evacuated the surviving passengers and crew and conveyed the wounded to six hospitals. Uninjured passengers were escorted to the Passenger Reception Centre for police debriefing, immigration and customs clearances before being taken to the Family Reception Centre.

The Airport Authority together with Police, Fire Services and Japan Airlines held a simulated press conference with 25 university students posing as journalists. The exercise stood down at 1020 hours.

Howard Eng, Airport Management Director, Airport Authority, said, "In this annual drill we used multimodal transportation means to carry casualties, taking our rescue actions to a level not reached before. A landslide incident in June 2008 blocked the North Lantau Highway—HKIA's only road link to downtown—and we responded by exploring the possibility of having no road access to and from the airport during an emergency. Under such circumstances, the deployment of air and sea transport to send casualties to hospitals becomes critical."

Staging an annual rescue exercise forms part of the Civil Aviation Department’s mandatory aerodrome licensing requirements. It also tests the airport’s ability to cope with large-scale plane accident. This year's drill involved over 700 people from the following 28 organisations:

Government Departments - Auxiliary Medical Service - Airport Port Health Office/ Department of Health - Civil Aid Services - Civil Aviation Department - Customs & Excise Department - Fire Services Department - Government Flying Services - Home Affairs Department - Hong Kong Police Force - Hospital Authority - Immigration Department

Hospitals - Caritas Medical Centre - Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital - Prince of Wales Hospital - Princess Margaret Hospital    - Pok Oi Hospital - Tuen Mun Hospital         

Business Partners - Airport Chaplaincy - Aviation Security Company Ltd. - Japan Airlines - Raffles Medical Group - Regal Airport Hotel

Other Organisations  - Agency for Volunteer Service - Air Cadet Corps - Chinese University of Hong Kong - Red Cross - Shue Yan University - St. John Ambulance