Photo courtesy of Egypt's cabinet
The exercise, dubbed “Horus 2,” simulated an incident which would involve an EgyptAir aircraft arriving from Frankfurt that suffered a nose-wheel technical failure during landing amid reduced visibility caused by a dust storm.
General emergency plans were activated, with rescue, firefighting, and ambulance units deployed, passengers evacuated, a field command centre established, and a full security cordon imposed around the site.
The drill took place around the runway area, Terminal 2, and the EgyptAir Training Academy, and tested response times, coordination between command-and-control centres, and the operational, medical, and security teams’ ability to manage complex emergencies, according to a ministry statement.
EgyptAir activated its crisis room and implemented its Survivors and Families Assistance Plan, which includes receiving survivors and families, monitoring the injured, and ensuring compliance with international obligations through its trained Survivors and Families Assistance Team.
Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny said practical training and realistic crisis scenarios are “a cornerstone” for maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety and security in line with international standards.
He added that Egypt adopts a continuous evaluation approach to operational plans, field-testing, and regular updates to enhance decision-making and passenger confidence.
EgyptAir Holding Company Chairman Ahmed Adel said the exercise reflected the airline’s commitment to international best practices in safety, security, and crisis management, noting that the Air Operations Centre managed the simulation with representatives from across the company to assess plan readiness, coordination, and the flow of information during emergencies.
Chairman of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation Ayman Fawzy Arab said large-scale drills are essential to measuring real response times and testing communications and joint coordination, adding that similar exercises will continue across Egyptian airports.
Such exercises are conducted in line with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which requires international airports to maintain approved emergency plans and carry out a full-scale emergency drill at least once every two years, with partial or tabletop exercises in between.
ICAO standards also oblige airlines to maintain crisis-management procedures, including arrangements for passenger evacuation and assistance to survivors and families.
Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has repeatedly stated that emergency drills at the country’s airports are conducted in accordance with international requirements, with the participation of airport operators, the national carrier EgyptAir, and civil defence, medical, and security services.
The exercises are used to test coordination, communications, and decision-making under emergency conditions and to update operational plans based on lessons learned.
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