On Thursday 300 members from the Acsa (Airport Company South Africa), NSRI, SAPS, Incident Services, Metro Ambulance, Traffic Department, Fire Department and participating civilians waited with baited breath for the call that could be made at any moment. At 13:30 the call came through that a plane, travelling from Cape Town to George carrying just over a 100 passengers, had crashed into the bay at Santos Beach and the teams responded.
The full scale simulated emergency exercise was held to enable all the relevant authorities to ensure that their emergency procedures are in place with specific emphasis to reaction time, emergency procedures and the management of an aircraft accident scene.
A number of evaluators were on the scene to record what they were observing. They reported their observations which showed only minor adjustments needed to be made to existing emergency contingency plans.
The operation ended at about 18:00 the same evening.
The SAPS would like to thank Brenda Moses (airport manager), Natasha Liebenerg (Representative of the Airlines), all participants and the Mossel Bay Advertiser for their role in the emergency exercise.
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The scene from the beach as members rush to get the job done.
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Lt Col Van Egmond making a call.
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Lt Col Van Egmond making a call.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MELISSA HILLS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
