Islamabad – Pakistan Airports Authority Successfully Conducts Full-Scale Emergency Exercise at Islamabad International Airport
Islamabad International Airport conducted the large-scale airport emergency exercise in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices to assess the preparedness, coordination and operational readiness of all emergency response agencies at the airport.
The exercise simulated a major aircraft accident involving an Airbus A320, followed by a mock aviation fuel fire to make it appear as close to a real-life incident as possible. The objective was to test the airport’s capability to cope with a large-scale aircraft fire and evaluate the effectiveness of multi-agency communication, decision-making, and response coordination under pressure.
The Rescue and Fire Fighting Services demonstrated exceptional efficiency by responding within the prescribed ICAO response time, swiftly controlling the blaze, and initiating rescue and medical evacuation operations A highlight of the exercise was the participation of Army Aviation’s MI-17 helicopter, which conducted an aeromedical evacuation of a critically injured dummy patient to a healthcare facility, reflecting excellent air-to-ground coordination and showcasing the integration of military and civilian assets in emergency response.
The exercise was conducted under the supervision and command of Syed Aftab Ali Shah Gilani, Chief Operating Officer / APM, with CFRO Mr. Muhammad Tariq serves as Exercise Coordinator. Both officials underscored that the success of AIRCON-25 demonstrates the airport’s high state of operational readiness and adherence to ICAO safety standards.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar (SI, HI), Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University, commended the professionalism, teamwork, and commitment shown by all stakeholders. He highlighted that such coordinated exercises strengthen national capacity to respond effectively to aviation emergencies and protect human lives.
Participating agencies included Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airport Security Force (ASF), Army Aviation, Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation, PIMS, Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Cantonment General Hospital, Ground Handling Agencies, Airlines Operating Committee, Disaster Management Authority and various government departments.
Observers and umpires from CAA, aviation industry, and rescue departments observed the exercise and praised the discipline, coordination, and realism of the operation. They noted that such full-scale simulations are critical in identifying procedural gaps and strengthening inter-agency coordination.
Following the vision of Director General Pakistan Airports Authority, Mr. Zeeshan Saeed, APM Aftab Gilani reiterated that continuous preparedness, realistic training, and inter-agency collaboration are central to PAA’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, operational resilience and passenger protection across all airports in Pakistan.
All flight operations and passenger services continued uninterrupted during the exercise, with strict safety measures observed to ensure normal airport activities were not affected.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
