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910th, local responders team up for airport mock crash

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brent J. Davis
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 910th Airlift Wing and Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport teamed up for an emergency response exercise here, April 16.

Several departments took part in the exercise, which is required every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration according to Dan Dickten, Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport director.

During the exercise, crews responded to a simulated downed Air Force Reserve C-130 that lost its engine capability after running into a flock of birds. They knocked out two of the plane's four engines.

"We had a C-130 hit a flock of geese," said 910 Airlift Wing Fire Department Chief John Lewis during the exercise. "(Then it crashed) into the hangar. The aircraft itself, carries thousands of gallons of fuel, so if it does crash and catches on fire, that's a big problem."

910th Firefighters sprayed down the aircraft and extracted simulated passengers to demonstrate how they would respond to an actual accident.

Lewis said the drill represented a very real situation, and that the exercise allowed the involved agencies to practice their mutual aid agreements.

"A great response! That's the way it's supposed to work," Lewis concluded.

The exercise involved approximately 45 people from the 910th Airlift Wing and five local response departments.