This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6673793.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mock plane crash tests NI crews | Mock plane crash tests NI crews |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The UK's "biggest ever" emergency exercise later - a mock plane crash - is under way in Belfast. | |
Police, fire and ambulance crews will be tested as part of a simulated disaster involving 1,200 people. | Police, fire and ambulance crews will be tested as part of a simulated disaster involving 1,200 people. |
Three airports, five hospitals and role-playing student nurses will also take part in the drill. | Three airports, five hospitals and role-playing student nurses will also take part in the drill. |
Fire Service group commander Peter O'Reilly said the exercise would test emergency services in "the biggest ever undertaken in the UK". | Fire Service group commander Peter O'Reilly said the exercise would test emergency services in "the biggest ever undertaken in the UK". |
"It's everything associated with a crash landing - the fire itself and evacuating people trapped on the plane," he added. | "It's everything associated with a crash landing - the fire itself and evacuating people trapped on the plane," he added. |
The simulation, which has been 18 months in the planning, centres on a flight carrying 100 passengers leaving George Best Belfast City Airport, bound for City of Derry Airport. | The simulation, which has been 18 months in the planning, centres on a flight carrying 100 passengers leaving George Best Belfast City Airport, bound for City of Derry Airport. |
But soon after take-off a catastrophic failure on board forces the plane to divert to Belfast International, where it will make a crash landing. As well as a high number of fatalities, there will be seriously injured casualties. | But soon after take-off a catastrophic failure on board forces the plane to divert to Belfast International, where it will make a crash landing. As well as a high number of fatalities, there will be seriously injured casualties. |
Up to 150 international observers will assess how the authorities cope under pressure. | Up to 150 international observers will assess how the authorities cope under pressure. |
The hospitals involved in the plan are Antrim Area, The Mater, Belfast City, The Royal Victoria and the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. | The hospitals involved in the plan are Antrim Area, The Mater, Belfast City, The Royal Victoria and the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. |
About 200 trainee nurses from the University of Ulster have volunteered to take part as the injured or their friends and relatives. | About 200 trainee nurses from the University of Ulster have volunteered to take part as the injured or their friends and relatives. |