Emergency drill at Shannon Airport

As required as part of it's aerodrome licence, Shannon Airport staged an exercise to test the response of the emergency services this Wednesday. The four-hour drill centred on a simulated crash of a Boeing 777 jet, carrying 156 passengers and 12 crew. The scenario involved the trans-Atlantic jet developing engine trouble, forcing it to divert to Shannon Airport before crash landing near the main runway. Ger Dollard, Director of Services, Clare County Council, said the exercise is not only vital to local emergency agencies but also required by Irish Aviation Authority regulations. He explained, ‘As part of an overall exercise programme a large-scale training exercise takes place at the airport about every two years to keep emergency services personnel prepared in the event a major aviation disaster would occur at the facility.’ The last emergency drill, ‘Exercise Eagle’, took place at Shannon in 2006. The agencies that took part in the exercise included the Garda Siochana, Shannon Airport Police Fire & Rescue Service, IAA, Clare Co. Council, Shannon Airport Authority, Clare Co. Fire Service and the HSE.