Denver International Airport to Host Large-Scale Emergency Response Training

DENVER – July 25, 2017 – Denver International Airport (DEN) will host a large-scale emergency response training on Wednesday, July 26 to evaluate and enhance the airport’s emergency plans, capabilities and coordination with outside agencies.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the airport to conduct a full-scale exercise every three years. This year’s event will include approximately 600 people, including airport employees, firefighters, paramedics, regional medical examiners and airline employees. The airport will also expand the number of participating emergency responders from surrounding jurisdictions.

The training will simulate a large-scale response to an aircraft incident just outside the airfield. It will test the airport and responders on incident management, firefighting operations, triage and hospital transport, reunification and communication. There will be no public access to the exercise area during the event, and traffic control officers will be on scene to direct drivers in the area. The event will include the use of a 75-foot aircraft live-fire training simulator, so smoke will be visible in the area.

Participating agencies include: Denver Health, FAA, Federal Air Marshals, Denver Fire Department, Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, FBI, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Denver Police Department, Denver Medical Examiner and Denver Public Health, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), American Red Cross, multiple airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association and area hospitals. Firefighters from Brighton, Hudson/Lochbuie, Sable Altura, South Adams, Southeast Weld and Bennet/Watkins will also participate, along with members of the City and County of Denver’s Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team.

“The airport’s top priority is the safety of its passengers and employees. Conducting a comprehensive training exercise enables us to keep our response skills sharp and continuously improve our emergency response plans,” said Ken Greene, DEN’s chief operating officer. “A seamless coordination of multiple agencies is vital when responding to a crisis, and we appreciate the efforts of the hundreds of first responders, volunteers, and airport employees who will participate in this exercise.”

In addition to this mandated training exercise, DEN also conducts a number of different exercises each year to test the airport’s various preparedness, response and recovery plans.

Media Availability

Members of the media are invited to observe this year’s event. Reporters must RSVP via email to [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, to receive instructions for access and parking. Media will be able to observe the exercise from a designated location. Interviews with airport officials and participants will be available on site.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

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