San Antonio International Airport Conducts Emergency Exercise

Published on October 18, 2023

SAN ANTONIO (October 18, 2023) — San Antonio International Airport (SAT) conducted a routine training exercise to simulate a real-world emergency incident involving a plane crash. SAT staff were joined by many groups who played a role in the training, such as Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), San Antonio Fire Department, San Antonio Airport Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, hospitals and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“The emergency training exercise involves hundreds of people working together,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System. “It’s important to go through this training so everyone is prepared to take action.”

A crash site was set up in the morning on the airfield with flames, smoke, first responders, ambulances, approximately 90 “injured passengers” and aircraft debris. Volunteers from local colleges and universities acted as injured passengers being rescued, who were then treated and transported to hospitals by first responders.

SAT’s Triennial Airport Emergency Mass Casualty Exercise is required every three years by the FAA for all airports in the U.S. that have commercial air carrier service.

For more information about SAT, please visit the airport’s website.