Hannover Airport conducts large-scale aviation accident drill

Approximately 250 emergency responders participated in a large-scale aviation accident drill at Hannover Airport on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The exercise, conducted in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, simulated a serious collision between a Boeing 737 and an airfield fuel tanker in the apron area, resulting in a fire caused by leaking kerosene.

The simulation involved an “Aircraft Accident Alarm” triggered by Deutsche Flugsicherung at 19:09. Emergency services practiced managing a mass casualty incident involving 20 simulated victims. Participating organizations included the airport fire department, municipal fire departments from Langenhagen and Hannover, and medical services from the Johanniter, the German Red Cross, and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund.

To enhance realism, the Johanniter Academy provided 70 actors to portray victims. Despite the scale of the exercise, regular flight operations at the airport continued without interruption. Airport Managing Director Maik Blötz emphasized the necessity of training for crisis scenarios under realistic conditions while maintaining active operations.