On Saturday, February 28, 2026, Albrecht Dürer Airport Nuremberg conducted a comprehensive emergency exercise to test operational readiness and cooperation between different rescue forces.
The scenario centered on a collision between a small aircraft and an apron bus on a taxiway of the airport grounds. A total of approximately 460 people were involved in the operation, including 250 professional emergency personnel from the airport fire brigade, the Nuremberg professional fire brigade, several volunteer fire departments, as well as various rescue services, aid organizations, and the police. They were supported by about 70 extras, realistically made up to portray injured people and create an authentic accident situation.
The exercise served to fulfill strict international and national safety regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which mandate regular full-scale exercises every two years. Particular focus was placed on the alert chain, as well as the medical triage and initial treatment of a large number of casualties by the Nuremberg Hospital. Observers such as airport managing director Dr. Michael Hupe and Bavarian Red Cross President Hans-Michael Weisky followed the proceedings on site. Planning for this day took approximately nine months and was especially challenging because the original date in November 2025 had to be canceled at short notice due to the discovery of an actual bomb in northern Nuremberg.
During the multi-hour exercise, regular air traffic at Nuremberg Airport remained completely unaffected. Passengers were informed in advance via the airport's digital channels to avoid any confusion caused by the large number of emergency vehicles and sirens. Independent referees from various organizations observed the proceedings to evaluate the efficiency of communication between the Northern Bavaria Aviation Authority, the incident command, and the medical teams. A detailed analysis of the results will be conducted in the coming weeks to further optimize the airport's existing emergency plan, if necessary.
Such exercises are essential for the certification of commercial airports and ensure that the specialized equipment of the airport fire brigade, such as the large airport fire engines, functions smoothly in conjunction with municipal units. With this measure, Nuremberg Airport underscores the importance of a comprehensive safety architecture in air traffic. In addition to the technical component, the psychosocial emergency support for uninjured individuals and their families was also practiced, which is an integral part of modern crisis management concepts at international transport hubs.