José María Córdova International Airport Holds Comprehensive Off-Runway Emergency Response Drill. Airport operator Airplan, in coordination with Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aeronáutica Civil), conducted a comprehensive off-runway emergency drill this Friday, November 6, at José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Rionegro, serving the greater Medellín area. Carried out between 10:00 and 12:00 local time under the operational theme “The runway ends, the mission begins”, the drill took place airside near the runway 19 threshold and concluded without closures or operational disruptions to commercial flight traffic.
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The training scenario simulated the inbound arrival of an ATR 72 regional turboprop carrying 20 occupants (18 passengers and two crew members) declaring an emergency due to total hydraulic system failure and complete pressure loss. Air traffic controllers immediately triggered the airport’s Emergency Response Plan, mobilizing the Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (SEI), Airport Medical Services (SMA), and the Airport Operations Coordination Center (CECOA) to activate the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
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Javier Andrés Benítez Ríos, General Manager of José María Córdova Airport, emphasized that the drill validates inter-agency communications, command center logistics, triage protocols, and overall multi-agency disaster preparedness. The large-scale exercise integrated emergency crews from aeronautical firefighters, Rionegro municipal fire rescue, CACOM 5 military base, Eastern Tunnel emergency teams, San Vicente de Paúl Hospital, national police units, Talma ground handlers, the University of Antioquia, the INEC Aviation Academy, and operational teams from Avianca.
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