Southampton Airport was proud to host a large-scale multi-agency training exercise last week, simulating a complex aircraft incident on site.
The scenario, which involved a plane crash into a car park resulting in multiple casualties and damaged vehicles, saw a coordinated response from emergency services across the region.
Crews from Eastleigh and Hamble were joined by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, alongside their colleagues from Wales USAR.
Exercise Casus, which commenced shortly before 10am on Thursday 23rd October, tested the capabilities of South Central Ambulance Service, HART, Southampton Airport Fire Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, and the HIWFRS Incident Command Unit.
Additional partners included Border Force, the Air Accident Investigation Branch, Rail Incident Officers, and other Local Resilience Forum representatives.
Southampton Airport Managing Director Gavin Williams said: “Safety is our highest priority, and hosting realistic training scenarios like this ensures we remain ready for any eventuality.
"We were proud to lead and support this vital exercise, and we’re grateful to all agencies involved for their professionalism and collaboration. Strengthening regional resilience is a shared responsibility, and this exercise was a great example of that in action.”
Paul Lawler, USAR Tactical Advisor and Eastleigh Fire Station Commander, represented HIWFRS on the planning committee.
He commented: “This exercise took months of preparation to ensure all agencies met their training goals while supporting the airport’s assurance visit. The scenario challenged our teams to respond to a major incident at one of our region’s critical infrastructure sites.
"The scale of the exercise reflects the complexity of such an event, and it provided invaluable experience for our crews—not only in firefighting and rescue operations but also in multi-agency coordination.
"While we hope never to face such an incident, it’s essential we are fully prepared.”
Station Manager Paul Lawler also served as the HIWFRS incident commander during the exercise. He extended thanks to all participants, including firefighters, USAR teams, the Incident Command Unit, command assessors, and Station Manager Jason Boh.
The exercise also provided valuable training for HIWFRS’s new search and rescue canine, Dottie, and her handler Spencer, who were able to operate in a realistic environment.
The HIWFRS Urban Search and Rescue team played a key role in securing the crash site and assisting with casualty rescues. The Incident Command Unit, made up of personnel from Fire Control, IT, Technical Services and more, supported the operation with communications, logistics, and incident management.
Southampton Airport thanks all partners for their dedication to safety and preparedness.