"Crash Exercise: Emergency Crews Put to the Test at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport"

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Emergency Crews Put to the Test at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas


Law enforcement and emergency personnel began conducting disaster drills
Tuesday morning at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to hone their response to a
catastrophic event.

Fire engines and CareFlite helicopter ambulances converged on the D/FW
fire-training facility, which was the scene of a simulated plane crash.
Crews of firefighters and public safety officers put out a blaze,
searched a smoky airplane cabin for survivors and set up a triage for
the injured. Fatalities were placed behind a taped-off area.

Cries for help came from some of the victims, who were portrayed by
airport employees and volunteers wearing tags describing injuries.

Example: "Cut to forehead, amputated right index finger, average
respirations, third-degree burns to chest."

The simulation was part of a 2 1/2-day exercise to evaluate the
airport's ability to respond to a disaster. Tuesday morning's 45-minute
LifeSaver 2002 drill -- a passenger jet crash at the airport -- is
required by the Federal Aviation Administration every three years.

This is D/FW's eighth FAA-mandated drill of this scope. There were 11
inspectors on hand, and preliminary indications were that the airport
team did fine, D/FW Fire Chief Alan Black said.

This year, however, the D/FW response teams were to continue on with
tabletop exercises to simulate a "weapons of mass destruction" scenario.
Airport officials were not told details of the drill, which was designed
by the Texas Engineering and Extension Service, except that it is
intended to be too tough for the airport to handle, eventually requiring
a state disaster declaration.

"The state is conducting the drill and throwing all the scenarios at
us," D/FW spokesman Ken Capps said. "They have kept the scenarios
secret. However, one thing we do know is, we find out later today that
this quote-unquote crash was no accident. It was part of a terrorist
attack on the airport."

The exercises, which could include chemical attacks or the bombing of a
terminal, have been closed to the news media, airport officials said,
because they reveal sensitive information. A briefing on the drill is
expected to be scheduled for Friday.

"The LifeSaver drill will put all of our training and procedures to the
test," said Jeff Fegan, D/FW chief executive officer.

The airport halted operations for about five minutes during the fiery
jet crash simulation, but officials said passengers should have
perceived no difference in service.

Emergency crews from at least 13 neighboring communities participated.
Firetrucks from Flower Mound, Irving, Lewisville and Pantego were on the
scene, and officials from several airlines were on hand.

"I thought it went very well -- a lot of equipment came out here, and
they responded very quickly," said Karen Nelson, manager of American
Airlines' emergency response team." That's the good thing about a bigger
airport -- they have so much equipment and firefighters."


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