On October 15, 2024, a large-scale emergency exercise took place at Graz Airport, simulating the scenario of an aircraft hijacking.
Around 500 emergency personnel from the police, fire service and rescue services took part in the exercise, which focused on police work and cooperation between authorities. The main focus was on coordination between the state police directorate, the Cobra task force and other partners. The aim of the exercise was to review emergency planning and improve cooperation in the event of an emergency.
State Police Director Gerald Ortner stressed the importance of such exercises for protecting the population, while the base commander of the EKO Cobra, Colonel Kurt Kornberger, emphasized the complexity of the situation and the need for smooth cooperation. The Managing Director of Graz Airport, Wolfgang Grimus, also praised the successful outcome of the exercise and announced a comprehensive follow-up to gain new insights. As the airport's largest airline partner, Eurowings provided an aircraft for the exercise.
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