Large-Scale Aircraft Disaster Drill Puts Bohemia and Regional Responders to the Test at MacArthur

Bohemia, NY - Firefighters with the Bohemia Fire Department joined a regional emergency task force Sunday morning to conduct a full-scale mass-casualty aircraft disaster simulation at Long Island MacArthur Airport in central Suffolk County.

On the morning of September 20, emergency units converged on airport grounds to execute a complex disaster response exercise centered around a simulated runway overrun. As one of the primary outside mutual aid agencies designated to back up the airport's dedicated Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units, Bohemia personnel participate regularly to maintain tactical readiness for major aeronautical emergencies.

The realistic scenario required responding companies to establish unified command operations, execute specialized foam-and-water fire suppression tactics around a mock fuselage, and deploy hydraulic tools for rapid passenger extrication under hazardous conditions. Personnel also coordinated triage corridors and multi-agency casualty collection points alongside regional mutual aid partners and airport operations staff.

Department officials highlighted the critical importance of regular interagency field exercises, emphasizing that navigating the unique operational hazards, wide perimeters, and unified communications of an airport crash environment ensures seamless coordination during an actual commercial or general aviation disaster.