That scenario is exactly what was put to practice Wednesday night.

The full-scale disaster drill was this: an Air Choice One aircraft has just landed on the runway. As it exits onto the taxiway the tail of the aircraft explodes.

A total of 10 people were aboard the plane, including eight passengers and two crew members.

The involved parties must work from there to contact the necessary responding agencies and act as quickly and safely as possible.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Courtney Ubben, of the Webster County Health Department, adjusts her mask prior to the Fort Dodge Regional Airport full-scale disaster drill Wednesday night. Ubben portrayed the role of a victim in a plane crash.

It was the 10th full-scale disaster drill conducted at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport since 1992 and the first full-scale drill in three years.

“The whole purpose is not to say who did it wrong or right, the purpose is to find out the items we need to improve on,” Rhonda Chambers, director of aviation at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport, said. “This is so we can all work together.”

The Fort Dodge Regional Airport, Air Choice One, Fort Dodge Flight Support, Fort Dodge Fire Department, Fort Dodge Police Department, UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center, Transportation Security Administration, Webster County Emergency Management, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Webster County Health Department, Humboldt County Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, Iowa Air National Guard, Iowa State Patrol, Badger Volunteer Fire Department, Clare EMS, and Vincent EMS, all participated in the drill.

Chambers said the drill was the first one that wasn’t conducted during the day.

“A big part of this is how does the airport operations get notified when there is an incident when we are not here,” Chambers said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Ten mock victims were tended to by first responders during a full-scale disaster drill at the Fort Dodge Regional AIrport Wednesday night.

That’s where Scott Forbes, Webster County emergency management coordinator, comes in.

“When there is an airplane incident, there’s a lot of people that need notified,” Forbes said. “The first thing is life safety.”

Forbes said he worked with two new dispatchers at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center during the drill.

“If that were to ever happen it would help them be more efficient at who they need to notify and how the process works,” he said. “They will know when we start paging out, who is going to go. By running through it, it helps them think about what they need to do. The two tonight have not participated in this type of drill.”

A number of factors have to be considered in this type of scenario, Chambers said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Erick Bygness, of Webster County Health, looks over one of his wounds during a full-scale disaster drill at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Wednesday night.

“Part of this exercise is how do responders get inside the fence, how do we block off roads, how do we make it safe for ambulances to get patients out,” she said.

Forbes said every agency has requirements they need to meet.

“We incorporate all the requirements in one drill,” he said.

The drill provides a chance for all agencies involved to work together.

“By learning and practicing communication skills and working with other agencies,” Forbes said. “We don’t have those opportunities to work with all the agencies. Anytime you can practice that response is always a good thing.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Milia Rothman, 6, of Clarion, prepares to portray a dead person during a full-scale disaster drill at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Wednesday night.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Hannah Sigler, 10, of Manson, is loaded onto a stretcher by a pair of Fort Dodge firefighters during a full-scale disaster drill at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Wednesday night.