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Hartsfield-Jackson holds ‘Big Bird’ airplane disaster drill

Observers where kept behind barriers as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

Observers where kept behind barriers as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.
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April 12, 2018

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a mass casualty emergency response drill on Thursday simulating an airplane disaster.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

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Credit: PHIL SKINNER

The exercise, which the Atlanta airport calls "Big Bird," is required by the Federal Aviation Administration every three years.

A plans lands behind a huge fireball as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

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Credit: PHIL SKINNER

Volunteers act as victims, with makeup to show injuries. Firefighters practice extinguishing an airplane fire, and those responding practice triage and treating nearly 150 "victims."

An EMS workers helped a victim as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

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Credit: PHIL SKINNER

The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department, Atlanta Police Department and airport officials participate in the drill, which is designed to test the effectiveness of emergency response at the world’s busiest airport.

A Delta plans landed behind a burning fuselage as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

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Credit: PHIL SKINNER

A mock aircraft at the airport’s fire training center off Lake Mirror Road is used for the event. The FAA also requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills.

The media had to move back before of the intense heat of the flames as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

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Credit: PHIL SKINNER

While Hartsfield-Jackson struggled with a massive power outage that hobbled operations last December, the Big Bird exercise and other similar drills often focus on incidents like airplane crashes that result in casualties.

Firefighters helped "victims" off a plane as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

icon to expand image

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

Firefighters prepared to move a victim as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a full-scale disaster drill with Atlanta Firefighters, law enforcement, rescue personnel and nearly 150 volunteers who participated in a triennial exercise known as “Big Bird” on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Airport personnel mobilized to a mock aircraft crash, extinguished the fire then triaged & treated the victims at a training site. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills and at least one full-scale drill every three years. (Photo by Phil Skinner)NOTE: getting Ids was impossible because the media was too far away.

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

icon to expand image

Credit: PHIL SKINNER

VIDEO -- More about the Atlanta airport:

About the Author

Follow Kelly Yamanouchi on facebookFollow Kelly Yamanouchi on twitter

Business reporter Kelly Yamanouchi covers airlines and the airport including Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, one of the world's largest carriers, and Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport. She has covered airlines for about 20 years, graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

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