Tyre-puncture runway excursion drill at Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell Airport tests cross‑border response

Aeroports de Catalunya and the Generalitat’s Civil Protection service carried out a simulated accident this morning at Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell Airport involving a commercial aircraft with 15 passengers and four crew during takeoff. The exercise recreated a tyre puncture that caused the aircraft to leave the runway and come to rest on the grass, with a fuel spill but no fire.

The airport activated its self-protection plan (PAU) and Catalonia’s special aeronautical emergency plan (AEROCAT). The drill involved around 100 participants and tested operational coordination with external emergency services, including those from Andorra.

Airport firefighters (three personnel) applied foam to the spilled fuel and carried out triage. Bombers de la Generalitat took command of the emergency, deploying about fifteen firefighters, two observers, three water tankers, a rescue van and two light coordination and command units from the parks of La Seu d’Urgell, Montferrer, Organyà and the Lleida Emergency Region. Police units also intervened to secure the scene.

The Medical Emergency Service (SEM) mobilised ambulances and other resources according to the situation assessment, attended simulated injuries for 25 people and used an incident-management IT platform. SEM also deployed a psychological support team of 12 professionals and two units, including one Advanced Life Support and one Basic Life Support vehicle. Andorra’s SUM participated jointly; the Red Cross and Andorran firefighters attended as observers.

The exercise focused on rescuing and extinguishing operations, sectorising the scene, casualty management and communications, and on coordinating the flow of information between the intervention area and command posts.