Airplane Accident Simulation Planned For Reagan National Airport

ARLINGTON, VA — Airport officials in Virginia are making sure local residents and travelers aren't caught off-guard by a simulated airplane accident at Reagan National Airport on Saturday.

Emergency crews and volunteers will be conducting the emergency simulation exercise at Reagan National Airport starting at 9 a.m.

Announcements will be made at Reagan National Airport Saturday morning to reassure travelers that there is no actual emergency, the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority said.

The simulated airplane accident comes only days after poor communication led to the evacuation of the U.S. Capitol complex due to an unidentified aircraft flying nearby.

The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed Thursday that the aircraft was a military plane on its way to Nationals Park for the Washington Nationals baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday night. The Golden Knights were part of the pre-game activities for Military Appreciation Night.

The Federal Aviation Administration failed to notify Capitol Police about the parachute stunt at Nationals Park, according to officials.

On Saturday, the aircraft accident simulation will take place in a closed area away from the Reagan National Airport terminals and flight activity.

The exercise, which will be closed to the public, should be over by noon on Saturday. It will not affect scheduled flights at Reagan National Airport, officials said.

The emergency simulation will include a trainer aircraft emitting smoke and fire as well as police, fire and EMS personnel responding with lights and sirens. More than 30 emergency vehicles from surrounding areas will participate in the emergency exercise.

The simulation will also include volunteer actors playing victims and family members, and mannequins on the ground simulating casualties.

Scheduled airline flight will operate normally. Most passengers will not notice anything unusual, officials said. But some may notice the exercise while they are on airplanes or looking out airport terminal windows.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority said it will not be offering viewing opportunities of the exercise to the news media. A federal judge in Florida on Monday struck down a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mask mandate for passengers on planes and other public transportation.

The next full-scale simulated accident exercises are scheduled for 2024 at Dulles International Airport and 2025 at Reagan National Airport.