Emergency Media Guide

The Salt Lake City Department of Airport (SLCDA) facilitates the needs of the news media and its coverage of events on Airport property when applicable. In the event of an emergency the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property takes precedence. SLCDA is responsible for preserving an incident site for investigation and preventing evidence from being destroyed or disturbed.

Airport Jurisdiction and Public Comments

As the Airport operator, SLCDA can only provide information within its jurisdiction and will respond only when the actions or property of SLCDA are involved. SLCDA works in partnership with the Airport Police Bureau and Fire Department. All inquiries should be directed to the SLCDA Communication and Marketing Director.

SLCDA does not represent the airlines, government agencies (CPB, FAA, FBI, TSA) or private companies. In the case of a major aircraft accident, information will be distributed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and/or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The media should direct requests for specific information to the airline, company or agency involved.

The cause of an accident or aircraft crash will be released by the NTSB after an investigation has been conducted. Other agencies or entities are directed not to speculate about the cause of an accident or to discuss details.

The passenger manifest (a list of passenger names and crewmembers on an aircraft) is released by the airline, not the Airport. Initial confirmation of any deaths resulting in the plane crash is made by the coroner, medical examiner or a designated law enforcement agency. Information will not be released until there is confirmation that family members have been notified. The airlines are responsible for providing information and support to families of those involved in an aircraft incident.

SLCDA will not speculate regarding the cause or other details of an incident or event. Sensitive security information will be guarded and is subject to federal regulation.

The FAA is responsible for air traffic control. Inquiries about aircraft operations or delays in the air traffic system should be directed to the regional public affairs office. The FAA reports aircraft delay information at: fly.faa.gov. Real-time flight information is also available on flightaware.com.

Each airline has its own communication team. A list of contacts for the airlines operating at Salt Lake City International Airport is below. The Air Transport Association maintains a list of airline media contacts as well. They can be reached at (202) 626-4172. Reporters should contact the airline for information about airline operations.

Information pertaining to the security screening process is handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All inquiries regarding any aspect of security screening, threat level, etc., should be directed to the TSA public affairs office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has jurisdiction over incidents that occur onboard an aircraft, including hostage taking, hijacking and other federally regulated criminal activity.

Initial Response 

Initial briefings from SLCDA will consist of the following information if it is available:

• General nature of the incident
• Airline involved
• Flight number
• Type of aircraft and destination/origin
• Operating status of the Airport

During major incidents or long-term situations, information will be posted on the Airport’s website at: slcairport.com and via social media (X, Facebook, Instagram).

The following information will be provided when the incident is not airline or aircraft related:

• Type of incident
• Agency involved
• Contact information
• Number of individuals involved and location

Depending on the incident, media will be referred to the airline, the Airport tenant or federal agencies involved for detailed information or follow-up. Contact information is listed below.

As confirmed information develops, applicable updates will come from SLCDA or the airline, company or organization involved.

 Emergency Categories 

Alert 1 (Minor Difficulty) an Alert 1 indicates that a potential emergency exists that may require the dispatch of emergency equipment and personnel - a standby situation.

Alert 2 (Major Difficulty) an Alert 2 indicates that a situation exists that requires the immediate dispatch of emergency equipment and personnel.

Alert 3 (Accident) an Alert 3 indicates that an accident is imminent or has occurred requiring the immediate response of emergency equipment and personnel.

News Conferences 

The location for news conferences will be determined in relationship to the incident.

Possible locations include:

• Airport Operations Center’s Hangar Conference Room (AOC) located at 220 N 3700 West
• Airport Board Room in the Airport’s Administrative Offices on the third floor of the terminal behind the Southwest ticket counters

Coverage Information and Access

Arrangements for access will be made depending on the incident and will be consistent with security, safety and rescue requirements.

News helicopters may not be permitted to fly within the designated Airport emergency area as determined by the FAA. Drones are not allowed to fly in the airspace at the Airport.

In some cases, pool coverage may be required. Access will be at the discretion of the Director of Communication and Marketing depending on security and safety requirements.

Contact Information

The following phone numbers are provided for reference in reaching the appropriate individuals and agencies in covering news at Salt Lake City International Airport. Please be aware that this information is subject to change.