Fraport Greece Conducts Large-scale Emergency Exercise at Mytilini Airport

Photo source: Fraport Greece.

Fraport Greece, the operator of the 14 regional airports in Greece, recently conducted a planned large-scale emergency exercise at the Mitilini Airport “Odysseas Elytis” in collaboration with all relevant bodies.

The exercise scenario involved an aircraft accident outside the airport in a land area near the airport. With the occurrence of the event, the Airport’s Emergency Response Plan was immediately activated, with the simultaneous initiation of relevant operational procedures.

Specifically, actions were taken for the rescue, provision of first aid on the scene, and the evacuation of passengers, in excellent coordination among the involved bodies. Simultaneously, the Airport Crisis Management Center was activated to coordinate the incident.

Photo source: Fraport Greece.

The purpose of conducting this large-scale exercise was to evaluate and potentially improve the operational response level to such an event. Mainly, it aimed to analyze the collaboration and interoperability of the involved entities in addressing such a crisis.

In addition to Fraport Greece personnel, all relevant bodies participated in the exercise, including the General Secretariat for Civil Protection (GSCP), the Hellenic Police, the Fire Department, the National Center for Immediate Assistance, the Health Operations Center, the Forensic Service of Mytilene, the Independent Directorate of Civil Protection of the North Aegean Region, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), and other airport entities, such as the ground handling service provider and the Security Services Provider.

Photo source: Fraport Greece.

Following the successful execution of the large-scale exercise, Panagiotis Spiratos, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Fraport Greece, highlighted the importance of such drills for airport and flight safety.

“Fraport is implementing its plan on a permanent basis – at the 14 regional airports managed and operated by the company – including, among other things, infrastructure upgrades, alignment of processes and operations with the highest European and international standards, and the training of its personnel, with the goal of maintaining and enhancing the already high level of safety at the 14 regional airports,” Spiratos added.