La Gomera airport conducts aircraft accident drill

The Jilguero 2026 exercise evaluates the coordination of emergency services during a simulated runway excursion.

Generic image of emergency lights on an airport runway.
IA

Generic image of emergency lights on an airport runway.

La Gomera Airport hosted the general drill known as Jilguero 2026 this Thursday, an exercise designed to measure the effectiveness of safety protocols in the event of an aviation incident.

The maneuver simulated a runway excursion of an ATR-72 commercial aircraft during landing, carrying 14 people on board. The hypothetical accident resulted in structural damage to the aircraft, the loss of the front landing gear, and a fire caused by a fuel spill.
The main objective of this intervention was to verify the effectiveness of the facility's Self-Protection Plan and the coordination between different response teams. Following the alarm activation, command posts were deployed, and external assistance was requested as outlined in the emergency plan.
The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands took command of the situation, coordinating various agencies such as the Canarian Emergency Service, the Civil Guard, Civil Protection, and the Canarian Police, among others. The exercise concluded after securing the area and providing assistance to the simulated victims.