The Republic of Korea Air Force’s 17th Fighter Wing conducted a nighttime aircraft fire and rescue drill on Monday at an apron inside the base. The exercise aimed to strengthen proficiency in pilot rescue and fire suppression procedures in the event of an aircraft emergency.
One fire and rescue team and two emergency response vehicles—a crash rescue truck and a personnel rescue truck—were deployed for the drill. At the start of the exercise, a simulated fire was reported on an aircraft, triggering an emergency call to the base’s fire command center.
Upon receiving the call, the rescue team assessed the safest route considering runway conditions and promptly dispatched fire trucks. Once on scene, the team extinguished the simulated aircraft fire while simultaneously checking the weapons system for any risk of explosion.
To prevent further damage, they moved the throttle lever to the IDLE position to stop engine thrust, shut down the engine, and secured the aircraft’s safety.
Firefighters tasked with rescuing personnel assessed the pilot’s condition, safely removed their harness and equipment, and completed the extraction. After completing fire suppression and rescue operations, the team thoroughly inspected all personnel and equipment for abnormalities, concluding the drill.
Lieutenant Colonel Yang Seon Rak, commander of the engineering battalion, stated, “This drill helped us strengthen our ability to respond to aircraft fire incidents,” adding, “We will continue regular training to ensure the safety of both pilots and aircraft in the event of a fire.”
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