Wednesday 9 September 2026

• More than 250 personnel from 11 agencies participated in the large-scale exercise
• Exercise formed part of Sydney Airport's regular emergency management program
• Scenario tested coordination between airport, emergency service and government agencies
• Photos and videos from today’s Emergency Exercise can be found HERE

Today, Sydney Airport conducted its biennial large-scale emergency exercise, involving more than 200 personnel from 8 agencies to test the airport's emergency response arrangements and inter-agency coordination.

Six months in the making, the exercise forms part of Sydney Airport's regular emergency management program. Sydney Airport last conducted an airport-wide emergency exercise in October 2024.

This year's exercise simulated an inbound domestic Boeing 737 flight declaring a MAYDAY following a suspected engine fire. After making an emergency landing, the aircraft vacated the runway and stopped on a taxiway, where a simulated explosion triggered a full emergency response and passenger evacuation.

Emergency services tested passenger triage processes, casualty management arrangements and welfare support procedures for uninjured passengers.

The exercise brought together Sydney Airport, NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance, NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and Airservices Australia.

Participating agencies tested a range of response capabilities, including aircraft firefighting, passenger evacuation, rescue and retrieval, casualty management, emergency communications and multi-agency incident management.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: "Safety is our highest priority, and exercises like this play an important role in ensuring we are prepared, coordinated and ready to respond in the event of an emergency.

"Conducted every two years, these exercises bring together airports, emergency services and government agencies to test plans, strengthen coordination and ensure we can respond effectively in a complex operating environment.

"Today's exercise demonstrates the value of planning, collaboration and continuous improvement. It provided an opportunity to validate our emergency arrangements, learn from one another and continually refine how we work together in a coordinated response."

"I'd like to thank all participating agencies for their professionalism, partnership and ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the travelling public."

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield said: "The role of the AFP at Sydney Airport is to protect Australians and travelling community and respond to critical incidents.

“This exercise provides our members with a valuable real-world scenario to further our preparedness to respond to critical incidents, alongside our aviation and emergency services partners,” AC Schofield added.

“While we hope to never be confronted with the situations presented with this exercise, I am confident that the AFP and our partners will be ready to respond should the need arise.”

NSW Police Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Greg Moore said: "The NSW Police Force is proud to participate in this multi-agency exercise, which provides a valuable opportunity to test our command, control and coordination arrangements in a realistic environment.

"The lessons identified today will further enhance our preparedness and strengthen our ability to work seamlessly with partner agencies during major emergencies."

NSW Ambulance Acting Chief Superintendent Stewart Clarke said: "Exercises like today’s are critical to ensuring NSW Ambulance and our emergency service partners can respond seamlessly to major incidents, strengthening our preparedness and ultimately delivering the best possible outcomes for the community.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Zone Commander, Matthew Franklin, said: "Major aviation incidents require a rapid, highly coordinated response, and exercises like this are critical to ensuring our firefighters remain highly trained and prepared to work seamlessly alongside Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services and other emergency services"

NSW SES Deputy Zone Commander Stuart Fisher said: "28 SES volunteers from across Sydney took part in the complex, hands-on simulation.

"For our members, it was a valuable opportunity to test our support arrangements to NSW Ambulance during a mass casualty event, including casualty handling," Superintendent Fisher said.

"These realistic scenarios allow our members to sharpen their skills and collaborate seamlessly with other agencies, so we remain ready to help when the community needs us most."

Sydney Airport conducts an airport-wide emergency exercise every two years in partnership with emergency agencies and organisations as part of its regular emergency management program.

Notes to Editor:

Sydney Airport emergency scenario 2026:

The scenario involved an inbound domestic Boeing 737 flight declaring a MAYDAY following a suspected engine fire. The aircraft made an emergency landing and, after vacating the runway, a simulated explosion triggered a full emergency response and evacuation of passengers. Under the scenario, emergency services conducted passenger triage, transported injured passengers to hospital for treatment and coordinated welfare arrangements for uninjured passengers.

Participating agencies and organisations:

• Sydney Airport
• NSW Police Force
• Australian Federal Police
• Fire & Rescue NSW
• Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS)
• NSW Ambulance
• NSW State Emergency Service

Agencies undertook the following emergency response:

• Initial firefighting and evacuation
• Rescue and retrieval of trapped and injured persons
• Triage and transport of injured persons
• Initial crash scene management and investigation