Hanoi airport stages drill for aircraft landing gear collapse, fire

The exercise was held under a scenario designed to test firefighting, search and rescue, and aircraft recovery procedures for an aircraft immobilized on the runway.

Organized by Noi Bai International Airport, the drill involved 173 personnel, 26 vehicles and specialized equipment, including dedicated aircraft recovery tools.

The exercise aimed to strengthen emergency command capabilities, improve practical response skills, and refine emergency response procedures.

Under the simulated scenario, flight X123 operated by Airline X using an Airbus A321-200 experienced a hydraulic oil system failure before landing.

At 9:40 am, the aircraft landed on runway 11R/29L, but both main landing gears collapsed due to a loss of hydraulic pressure. 

The aircraft was carrying 185 passengers, eight crew members, and 2,000 kilograms of cargo.

As the aircraft slid along the runway, its fuselage scraped the surface, generating sparks that ignited a fire. 

The aircraft eventually came to a stop at the end of the runway but it was unable to move.

The Noi Bai International Airport emergency operations center immediately activated a full emergency response, establishing an on-site command center.

Within three minutes of the aircraft coming to a stop, the airport's emergency response team, comprising 15 firefighters and four fire engines, arrived at the scene.

They were joined by 12 firefighters and two fire engines from Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Team No. 22, as well as 10 firefighters and two fire engines from the Noi Bai Airport Base Battalion.

To create realistic training conditions, the exercise featured simulated flames, heavy smoke, and spreading fire, while firefighting foam and water were deployed directly on the runway.

Firefighters quickly applied foam to contain the fire, sprayed water to cool and protect the aircraft's fuselage, and created safe evacuation routes for passengers.

At the same time, the airport's emergency medical team established a casualty triage area and provided first aid to six simulated injured passengers trapped inside the aircraft.

The airport border police and Noi Bai Police Station also deployed 13 officers to secure the scene and maintain public order.

After the rescue phase was completed, authorities began recovering the disabled aircraft through a nine-step operation involving 38 personnel from airport units.

The recovery team used specialized aircraft recovery equipment, including front and rear stabilizing devices, low-pressure pneumatic lifting columns, six lifting airbags with rigging, and a 30-tonne crane to move the aircraft and clear the runway.

By 11:00 am, the recovery operation, clean-up, and runway inspection had been completed, allowing the runway to be declared ready for normal operations.

Airport authorities said the exercise achieved all planned objectives while ensuring the safety of personnel, equipment, and property.

A post-drill review was conducted on site to evaluate the response and identify lessons learned.