Large-Scale ICAO-Compliant Drill Conducted at Çukurova International Airport!
A large-scale emergency drill compliant with ICAO standards was successfully carried out at Çukurova International Airport. The exercise tested scenarios such as aircraft accident response, passenger evacuation, and fire control.
At Çukurova International Airport, a large-scale emergency drill, required at least once every two years according to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), was successfully carried out. The exercise, organised to ensure airport safety and operational continuity, tested emergency response plans for potential aircraft accidents.
The “Aircraft Accident” drill took place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, at 10:00. According to the scenario, a Dassault Falcon 10X private passenger aircraft operated by KZV ARFF Airlines on the Sinop–Mersin route reported that its landing gears had failed to deploy. The aircraft, carrying 15 passengers and 3 crew members, performed a belly landing on runway 03L. Sliding approximately 600 meters, the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop 100 meters later, with a fire breaking out on its right wing.
The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) teams, immediately alerted, reached the site quickly. In the ARFF team leader’s initial assessment, it was determined that the wind was blowing at 5 knots from runway 21, the right wing of the aircraft was on fire, and the crew had opened the door and activated the emergency evacuation slide. While passengers were evacuated via the slide, it was identified, according to the scenario, that there were injured individuals as well as passengers and crew trapped inside the aircraft.
In coordination with the ARFF team leader and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, a level 1 alarm process was initiated. The drill was executed at the simulated accident site in the 6-G area on a 1/5000 scale grid map. ARFF teams, ambulances, medical staff, and all relevant institutions intervened in a coordinated manner, bringing the fire under control, rescuing the injured, and securing the site as per the scenario.
Within the scope of the Emergency Plan, all institutions and organisations involved demonstrated effective coordination. Approximately 120 personnel, including 40 ARFF staff and 10 medical personnel, actively participated in the large-scale exercise from rescue, medical, and security units.
The realistic large-scale drill successfully tested the airport’s operational readiness and inter-agency cooperation.
