McClellan-Palomar Airport to Hold Emergency Drill Tuesday

CARLSBAD, CA -- If you see a large presence of emergency vehicles and first responders at McClellan-Palomar Airport on Tuesday, don't be alarmed. The airport will be holding its federally required triennial full-scale emergency exercise.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires emergency exercises to be held at least every three years at commercial airports. The exercise will test critical first responders, mutual aid, coordination, communications and recovery related to an emergency scenario at the airport, county airport officials said.

This year’s exercise will involve a simulated active shooter that enters the commercial terminal and gains access onto a boarding aircraft. The exercise will involve more than 150 volunteers and almost a dozen agencies.

The drill will start at 9 a.m. and expected to last through 12:30 p.m. During the exercise, emergency vehicles and personnel, and other aspects of the exercise may be visible by some airport patrons and members of the public, officials said.

-- Photo courtesy of the county of San Diego