PRESS RELEASES
23 NOVEMBER 2012
Athens International Airport: FULL SCALE EMERGENCY EXERCISE

Athens International Airport organises emergency exercises on an annual basis, aiming to test its Emergency Plan and ensure the highest level of safety, readiness, training, and coordination of all parties involved in emergency situations.

The FULL SCALE Emergency Exercise 2012 “Hijack at Airport” was conducted successfully on Thursday, November 22nd, 2012, in the context of AIA’s regular emergency exercises, in compliance with the obligations arising from ICAO standards.

Besides Athens International Airport S.A., the following entities participated in the exercise:

  • Hellenic Civil Authority / Airport Authority (AIA)
  • Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority / Air Traffic Control Tower
  • Airport Police
  • Hellenic Police Headquarters / Crisis Management Division
  • Special Anti-terrorist Unit
  • Department of Explosive Devices Disposal
  • Special Violent Crime Squad
  • Criminal Investigations Division
  • Airport Hellenic Fire Corps
  • Airport Services Emergency Medical Care
  • National Center for Emergency Care
  • Aegean Airlines
  • Goldair Handling

EXERCISE SCENARIO

“Based on the scenario, on November 22nd, 2012, an A320 aircraft of Aegean Airlines performing a scheduled passenger flight to Athens with 74 persons on board (68 passengers and 6 crew members) sends a distress signal to Athens Airport ATC that the aircraft has been commandeered by hijackers”.

“Immediately ATC Tower informs the relevant agencies for dealing with the aircraft seizure. The aircraft lands at Athens airport and parks at a safe isolated position”.

“According to the scenario, various episodes take place until the situation escalates to the level that the intervention of armed Special Forces is considered necessary”.

As anticipated in the scenario, casualties include: 5 seriously injured, 13 less-seriously injured and 1 fatally shot by the hijackers”

- END OF SCENARIO -

A video of the Full Scale Emergency Exercise is available in:

http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=%27..%27&perform=view&id=22535&Itemid=989&lang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8O8dqDA4vg&feature=share&list=UUi8By8SV-5MeXgHEX8Dhtzg