Anyone at or around Schiphol on Thursday, November 19, may see and hear a noticeable number of emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. This is a planned security drill: there is no actual incident, the airport emphasizes.
On that Thursday, various emergency services and aviation agencies will conduct a joint drill simulating a large-scale security incident involving an aircraft. The scenario takes place in the secure part of the airport, beyond customs, in the so-called airside area.
What will you notice during the drill?
Travelers and road users around Schiphol may see and hear a noticeable number of emergency vehicles on Thursday. These will include special police vehicles driving with blue flashing lights and sirens. Some of these movements will take place on public roads, making the activity visible even outside the airport grounds.
So if you see a convoy of emergency vehicles heading toward Schiphol on Thursday, it’s part of the planned exercise. Schiphol has announced that the scenario has been designed to minimize disruption to travelers and daily air traffic. According to the airport, air travelers do not need to worry about delays at this time.
Why is Schiphol conducting this exercise?
The goal of the exercise is to help the collaborating organizations coordinate even more effectively during a crisis. The teams involved will test how they share information with one another and how they coordinate their on-the-ground response.
By regularly practicing these types of scenarios together, the partners can exchange information more quickly and respond more effectively in the event of a real emergency. If you’re traveling through Schiphol on Thursday, November 19, please keep an eye on your airline’s current flight information, as always.
Which agencies are participating in the exercise?
It is a joint exercise involving all parties that would be deployed in the event of a real crisis at Schiphol:
- Schiphol and KLM
- the police, including the Special Intervention Unit
- the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the military police
- fire departments and ambulance services
- Ministry of Defense
- Kennemerland Safety Region
If you’re traveling to Schiphol on Thursday, please keep an eye on your airline’s current flight information, as always. You can read more about the drill on Schiphol’s news page.
