Mass casualty plane crash exercise scheduled in Colorado Springs on Thursday

The Colorado Springs Airport and Office of Emergency Management will conduct a mass casualty exercise involving a simulated aircraft crash on Thursday to test response procedures.

More than 1,000 participants from 46 agencies will take part, including Colorado Springs police and fire, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base.

Cresterra Parkway will be closed from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Embraer Heights to Powers Boulevard, according to a city news release.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires all airports with scheduled air carrier service to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every three years and tabletop exercises all other years, the release read.

Memorial Hospital Central and North campuses, Penrose Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center and Evans Army Community Hospital will take part in the exercise.

Source:   http://gazette.com