Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale emergency disaster drill Wednesday evening, replicating an airplane on fire and treatment of nearly 100 “victims” who were actually volunteers.

The airport is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to hold at least one full-scale drill every three years. The drill, which Hartsfield-Jackson calls “Big Bird,” took place at the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department training facility on Lake Mirror Road near the airport.

Those who volunteered to be victims had makeup to simulate injuries. Airport personnel and others from nearby jurisdictions extinguished the fire and practiced treating the "victims."

About the Author

Keep Reading

A Delta plane is seen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC