Emergency Services Complete Successful Joint Training Exercise at Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport successfully hosted a multi‑agency emergency training exercise on Thursday 23 April, carried out between 7.30pm and 11.30pm, as part of its ongoing commitment to safety, resilience and emergency preparedness.

The planned exercise simulated a controlled incident scenario within the airport environment, allowing emergency responders and airport teams to test operational response, communication and coordination in realistic conditions.

Crews from Glasgow Airport Fire and Rescue Service (ARFFS) worked closely alongside colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), supported by partners from across the wider airport community.

The scenario involved a simulated vehicle fire within the multi‑storey car park and required coordinated command, control and response arrangements in line with established joint working principles.

As part of the exercise, fire appliances operated with blue lights, firefighters wore breathing apparatus, fire hoses were deployed with water used, and a short element of synthetic smoke was introduced to enhance realism. Certain areas of the car park were temporarily cordoned off to ensure safety, while covered pedestrian routes remained open to allow continued passenger movement.

The exercise formed part of Glasgow Airport’s emergency planning programme and provided an opportunity to rehearse procedures under evening operating conditions, while ensuring minimal disruption to passengers and airport operations.

Laurie Wylie, Deputy Airport Fire Manager at Glasgow Airport Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This exercise provided a fantastic opportunity to work side by side with our colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, allowing us to test the principles of joint working under the JESIP model.

“Effective interoperability is vital when responding to emergency events, and this exercise offered a valuable platform to refine our procedures and ensure we are ready to deliver a rapid, coordinated response to any eventuality.

“The safety of the public and the protection of essential infrastructure remain our absolute priorities. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved, particularly the crews from ARFFS and SFRS who took part, as well as those who carried out significant work behind the scenes to make this exercise such a success.”

Matthew Wilson, Technical Director at Glasgow Airport, said: “Safety is our highest priority, and exercises like this are essential in ensuring the airport remains fully prepared for any scenario. Training alongside our emergency service partners in a realistic, operational environment enables us to test procedures, strengthen coordination and continually improve our readiness.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism and cooperation, as well as passengers and members of the public for their understanding while the exercise was taking place.”

Area Commander Eddie Kenna, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Local Senior Officer for East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, said: “We’re grateful for the opportunity to join with crews from the Glasgow Airport on this multi-agency training exercise.

“It is vital that our firefighters have the skills and knowledge required to respond to a wide variety of incidents. Unique exercises like this provide us with the opportunity to train in the most realistic environments possible, while strengthening our operational readiness and collaborating with emergency partners to keep communities safe.”

Glasgow Airport extends its thanks to all participating organisations for their cooperation, commitment and continued focus on keeping passengers, colleagues and the wider airport community safe.