TIRANA, Nov. 4 /ATA/ – A search and rescue exercise, dubbed SAR-2026, will take place on Wednesday near Tirana International Airport “Mother Teresa”, running from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the Defence Ministry said.
The exercise is being organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre (QKKSH), in cooperation with institutions and agencies responsible for responding to aviation emergencies, the ministry said.
Participants will include the Armed Forces, Tirana International Airport (TIA), the State Police, air navigation service provider ALBCONTROL, the National Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (AKISA), the National Emergency Medical Centre (QKUM), the Fire and Rescue Service and the Albanian Red Cross.
The exercise will be based on a simulated scenario involving an aircraft veering off the runway and crashing outside the airport perimeter.
It aims to test emergency response procedures, inter-agency coordination and the deployment of search and rescue units in evacuating and rescuing passengers and crew members.
The Defence Ministry said residents in the area could notice increased movements of emergency vehicles during the exercise, stressing that the activity was planned and that there was no actual emergency.
The drill is intended to strengthen operational readiness, improve coordination among participating agencies and enhance national capabilities to respond to emergencies involving civil aviation.
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