Airport to close for emergency drill

Saturday 17 August 2024

An emergency exercise is to be staged at Alderney Airport tomorrow, with various organisations being tested on their response skills to a fake incident.

The drill will be based on a fictional major incident involving a commercial passenger aircraft.

The airport will be closed while the exercise takes place between 09:45 and 11:45 tomorrow morning.

Guernsey Ports Chief Operating Officer Ross Coppolo warned that members of the public in nearby areas may experience some necessary disturbance while the incident is being staged.

“This exercise is designed to put our emergency policies and procedures to the test and assess the island’s response to a major incident involving a commercial passenger aircraft," he explained.

“Public safety is our highest priority, and this exercise will help inform Guernsey Ports’ continued emergency planning requirements. Our procedures are regularly reviewed across all our Ports, to ensure we are well-prepared for any such event.

“Neighbours of Alderney Airport may notice increased noise and activity from emergency service vehicles on Sunday morning, and we ask for their patience and understanding during this time.”

Exact details around the nature of the emergency exercise have not been revealed but we know that it will involve representatives from the Guernsey and Alderney Airport Emergency Planning Group, Alderney Airport Fire and Rescue Service, Alderney Airport staff, Aurigny, St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Alderney Fire Brigade, the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre, Alderney Operational Group, Bailiwick Law Enforcement and Channel Islands Emergency Planning.

It is expected to be similar to the most recent full-scale emergency exercises carried out at Guernsey Airport in November last year, and at Guernsey Harbours in September 2022.

A similar smaller scale emergency exercise was also staged at Alderney Airport in November 2023.