- Army Aviation MI-17 leads aeromedical evacuation as ICAO-standard AIRCON-25 showcases swift rescue, coordination
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday successfully conducted a full-scale emergency exercise at Islamabad International Airport, in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, to evaluate the preparedness, coordination, and operational readiness of all emergency response agencies.
The large-scale simulation replicated a major aircraft accident involving an Airbus A320, followed by a mock aviation fuel fire, to create a realistic crisis scenario. The exercise aimed to test the airport’s ability to manage a large-scale aircraft fire and assess the efficiency of inter-agency communication, decision-making, and emergency coordination under high-pressure conditions, according to a PAA statement issued on Thursday.
The Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) demonstrated exceptional efficiency, responding within the prescribed ICAO response time, swiftly controlling the blaze, and launching rescue and medical evacuation operations. A key highlight of the drill 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 — a move that showcased excellent air-to-ground coordination and effective civil-military collaboration in emergency response.
The exercise, codenamed AIRCON-25, was conducted under the supervision of Syed Aftab Ali Shah Gilani, Chief Operating Officer/ Airport Manager, with Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Muhammad Tariq serving as Exercise Coordinator. Both officials noted that the successful completion of AIRCON-25 reflected the airport’s high operational readiness and strict adherence to ICAO safety protocols.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar (SI, HI), Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University, who attended the exercise as Chief Guest, praised the professionalism, teamwork, and dedication displayed by all participating agencies. He emphasized that such coordinated efforts significantly enhance national capacity to respond effectively to aviation emergencies and ensure the protection of human lives.
Participating organizations included Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airport Security Force (ASF), Army Aviation, Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Cantonment General Hospital, Ground Handling Agencies, Airlines Operating Committee, Disaster Management Authority, and other government departments.
Observers and umpires from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), aviation industry, and rescue organizations monitored the exercise, lauding its discipline, coordination, and realism. They noted that such full-scale simulations are essential to identify procedural gaps and strengthen inter-agency response mechanisms.
Reaffirming the vision of PAA Director General Zeeshan Saeed, APM Aftab Gilani reiterated that continuous preparedness, realistic training, and cross-agency collaboration remain central to PAA’s mission of maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, operational resilience, and passenger protection at all airports nationwide.
All flight operations and passenger services continued uninterrupted throughout the exercise, with strict safety measures in place to ensure normal airport activities remained unaffected.
