The sounds of panicked calls for help, violent coughing and ear-piercing screams filled the air during a startlingly realistic emergency drill at Wagga airport on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The scenario simulated a collision between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a commercial aircraft within Wagga airport’s airspace, with more than 60 volunteers posing as wounded civilians pouring onto the runway.
The volunteers were feigning a wide array of injuries while sporting false wounds thanks to a talented team of makeup artists.
They could be seen limping, screaming hysterically, nursing injured children and feigning full-body convulsions as local and state emergency services rushed to their aid.
Civilians were treated by emergency services workers before being rushed to a mock hospital.
Airport manager and exercise director Leon Burger said the drill was a valuable indicator of emergency services’ ability to respond to a disaster quickly and effectively.
“After today, there’s no doubt in my mind that for the size of aircraft here, we have more than enough resources to combat any incident,” he said.
“You saw today that we can react to an aircraft accident even if it involves multiple casualties and people.”
Mr Burger said everyone involved in the exercise performed exceptionally.
“We got a better reaction from emergency services and volunteers than we could have expected,” he said.
“The response was very good and we’ve learned a few lessons that we can implement in the future.”
Emergency services present included the State Emergency Service (SES), Fire and Rescue, Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), Hazardous Materials Unit, Wagga Rescue Squad and ambulance workers.
The exercise is conducted once every two years.