WATCH: Emergency services deal with mock air crash in Northampton
Emergency services have been taking part in major incident training
Northamptonshire's emergency services have been taking part in an exercise to test their preparedness for a major incident.
The mock scenario on Tuesday (13 May) involved the mid-air collision of two aircraft.
The RAF and other agencies heavily supported this exercise which ran in real time and involved more than 300 people handling a simulated emergency in the St James are of Northampton.
Organisations including Northamptonshire Police, the fire service, local authorities and health partners took part. The Environment Agency, UK Health Security Agency and the military also supported the exercise.
The scenario imagined that a Hawk jet and a Wildcat helicopter collided 250ft above Northampton and debris fell across the area.
Those taking part in the exercise were required to quickly liaise with all relevant agencies, risk assess the situation and decide on a course of action.
Deputy Chief Constable and LRF Chair, Ashley Tuckley, said: “Having a real-time exercise, with direct consequences from our action or inaction, was incredibly powerful.
“Colleagues from across our organisations demonstrated the benefit of our years of preparation and work together as we dealt with the unfolding situation.
“Of course, we’ll be reflecting very carefully on the decisions we took and whether different actions might have improved outcomes.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who worked so hard in response to today’s exercise, and to everyone in who might have been disrupted for their patience.”
The RAF arranged for sections from the two aircraft to be moved into position across West Northamptonshire Council’s Westbridge site.
Students from Northampton College were on hand to act as casualties and around 150 front-line emergency services staff were involved in the operation.
Wing Commander James Errington of RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, who assisted in the coordination of the exercise along with Northamptonshire Chief Superintendent Jen Helm, said: “The fundamental aim of this exercise was for partner agencies to work together in a challenging environment to better prepare for any future emergencies.
“This has successfully been achieved with partners going away with a greater understanding of each organisation.”