Disaster simulation held at Aberdeen Regional Airport

ABERDEEN, S.D.(AberdeenInsider)- A dark plume of smoke coming from Aberdeen Regional Airport Tuesday morning was part of a disaster simulation at Aberdeen Regional Airport, an exercise required every three years.

The morning event included participation from several agencies including Aberdeen Fire & Rescue, Aberdeen Rural Fire Department, Groton Fire Department, Ride Line, Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center, Brown County Emergency Management, South Dakota Emergency Management, The Salvation Army, the National Weather Service, the Aberdeen Police Department, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brown County coroner, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Transportation Services Administration and airport personnel from Aberdeen, Watertown and Pierre.

The simulation ran through an exercise where the pilot for a commercial flight ran into issues with a landing gear, which gave way when the plane landed on the runway.  Inflatable rescue dummies, also known as Rescue Randys, were used to simulate deceased passengers.