A plane skids off the runway, causing its engines to catch fire. The fire soon engulfs the aircraft. There are 15 passengers on board. Some are dead and others injured.
Airport and emergency staff responded to this mock air disaster staged at the Yongphula Domestic Airport as part of a full-scale mock emergency response.
The mock exercise carried out last Friday gave the team involved hands on experience on what the scene would be like at the airport in times of air disasters and how to handle it.
Unlike other airports, Yongphula airport is located 30 kilometres away from the dzongkhag headquarters. Recognizing it would take time for Dzongkhag team to arrive the disaster scene, Kanglung Gewog was identified as the first responder should there be any air disaster.
The Dzongda will lead the disaster response efforts.
“If a disaster happens, we will not wait for response from the Dzongkhag,” Tshueltrim Drakpa, the Airport Manager, said.
“We will call police, health and local leaders of Kanglung and carry out rescue and first aid operations. In the meantime, help from Trashigang Dzongkhag will arrive.”
The mock drill involved airport officials, police, medical team and DeSuups.
The Yongphula airport handles two domestic flight operations every week. The airport is known to be a difficult one to land at mainly due to foggy weather and its one-way runway.
