MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2026
Contact: Nancy Volmer
(801) 209-5774
Salt Lake City Department of Airports to Conduct Emergency Exercise
What: The Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) is conducting a full-scale emergency exercise the morning of Thursday, May 28 to test its emergency response plan. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct a full-scale drill every three years.
The exercise will simulate the crash of a medium-size commercial aircraft on the airfield. The emergency scenario will allow the SLCDA to practice emergency response systems, including the role of the Airport’s Emergency Operation Center, medical triage capabilities, helicopter operations and the Incident Command System.
The exercise will be conducted in real time to give participants a realistic, hands-on experience and will involve approx. 200 plus participants, including more than 100 volunteers representing accident victims. The exercise will have no impact on commercial airport operations at SLC.
When: Thursday, May 28 at 10:00 a.m.
Updates will be provided via the SLC Airport’s media Twitter account: @SLCAirportMedia
Who: Participating agencies will include: Salt Lake City Dept. of Airports, Salt Lake City Fire Dept., Gold Cross Ambulance, area hospitals, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), American Red Cross and others. United Airlines is a partner airline for the exercise.
Where: Media interested in covering the event should meet at the ATAC Center building located on the east side of the airport at 1911 North 2200 West (see map) at 10 a.m. for photo opportunities of the staged aircraft incident. Airport officials will be available to answer questions following the drill.
