Tampa International Airport set to conduct a Triennial Mass Casualty Exercise on Wednesday

Tampa International Airport is gearing up for its 2025 Triennial Mass Casualty Exercise, scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, beginning at 10 a.m. This comprehensive drill will take place on the TPA airfield and in the waters of Tampa Bay along the Courtney Campbell Causeway, bringing together over 150 exercise participants and more than 25 partner agencies to simulate a coordinated response to a major aircraft incident.

The exercise is a critical component of TPA's emergency preparedness strategy and will simulate an aircraft crash scenario involving multiple fatalities and injuries. In addition, first responders will engage in a water rescue operation, highlighting the complexities of managing dual emergency situations.

While some of the first responder activity may be visible to passengers and people near the scenes, TPA operations will operate normally throughout the four-hour exercise, and no impacts to flights are expected.

The exercise will involve a variety of local and regional agencies, including Tampa Fire Rescue, Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Emergency Management, the United States Coast Guard, and the American Red Cross, among others. Participants will work in real-time, testing their readiness and communication skills in a high-pressure environment.

TPA conducts dozens of emergency exercises each year, ranging from active threat scenarios to cyber attacks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that airports perform comprehensive tests of their emergency response capabilities every three years.

While much of the exercise will take place on the airfield, many other employees will be working behind the scenes, with the activation of the Emergency Operations Center, Family Resource Center, and various communications responses.

The collaboration of volunteers, first responders, and partner agencies highlights the commitment to safety and preparedness.