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Mock plane crash tests NI crews Mock plane crash tests NI crews
(about 6 hours later)
The UK's "biggest ever" emergency exercise later - a mock plane crash - is under way in Belfast. The UK's "biggest ever" emergency exercise - a mock plane crash - has taken place near Belfast.
Police, fire and ambulance crews will be tested as part of a simulated disaster involving 1,200 people. Police, fire and ambulance crews were 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 also took 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 disaster plan exercise was "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, centred 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 forced the plane to divert to Belfast International for a crash landing. As well as a high number of fatalities, the mock plan included seriously injured casualties.
Up to 150 international observers will assess how the authorities cope under pressure. Up to 150 international observers assessed how the authorities coped 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.