Mock drill held at Kochi airport

NEDUMBASSERY: Tension mounted at Cochin International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, when a Jet Air Flight, with over 100 ‘passengers’ on board, sought permission for emergency landing following technical snag. Messages spread fast. Agencies like Fire and Rescue Services Department of CIAL and State Fire Service, Medical Units from nearby hospitals, CISF, police, internal security, ground handling personnel and various airlines officials had been immediately coordinated.All agencies swung into action. Ambulances from 12 hospitals carrying medical staff and doctors rushed to the airport. State police were pressed into service. Airport director supervised the arrangements and controlled the situation by giving timely instruction. The Jet Air Flight landed emitting smoke from the aircraft. The Fire Tender units were pressed into service and began fire fighting. The passengers were immediately evacuated. Around 43 passengers were injured. They were categorised according to the gravity of injuries. They were shifted to various hospitals. But various agencies which took part in the operation and the people who were present at the airport came to know that it was part of the mock drill only after the ‘operation’ was completed.The mock drill was organised according to the guidelines of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to make sure the security and rescue arrangements in case of emergency while landing and taking off of aircrafts. Airport director A C K Nair said that it was mandatory for all airports to conduct mock drills once in two years.The airport director convened a meeting after the mock drill and evaluated various stages of operations. The operation and coordination were fully satisfactory. Agencies performed well, Nair said. The passengers who were on board the flight have been chosen from the airport at 2 pm. The operation which started at 2.30 pm lasted for one hour.