A simulated crash of a Boeing 777 and mock casualties are planned this morning at Kahului Airport, the state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
The emergency response exercise is scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Motorists can expect to see emergency vehicles and security personnel along Amala Road and in the vicinity of Kanaha Beach Park, the announcement said.
"The realistic exercise is a Federal Aviation Administration certification requirement to test airfield disaster preparedness and response and will simulate an airliner crash at the airport," the department said.
About 80 volunteers from Kamehameha Schools Maui will serve as "casualties" for the exercise, which also will include a live-fire drill at about 9:30 a.m.
"Maintaining the highest levels of preparedness requires regular exercises to ensure that all responding agencies work efficiently as a team," said DOT Director Glenn Okimoto. "Crash simulations like our triennial exercise will help to keep all of our partners ready in the event of an actual emergency."
Participating agencies will include Kahului Airport Rescue and Firefighting teams, the Maui Police and Fire departments, Emergency Medical Services, Maui Civil Defense, Hawaii Air National Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, American Red Cross, Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Maui Memorial Medical Center, American Medical Response, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Maui Visitors Bureau, user airlines and other state agencies.
Kahului Airport flights will continue as normal, officials said.
