The introduction of wide-bodied aircraft in air transport has required airports to be equipped to keep pace with the advanced aviation technology and the potential for dealing with a really major disaster. Most airports now have their Emergency Plan that defines with details everything which should be done, when, how and where to do it. Communications, Leadership and Coordination are frequently tested through simulated crashes. These tests are considered as an important factor in performance evaluation. When the alert is given at the airport, the Emergency Plan is put into action to face each aspect of the event.

The basic medical service at the airport works around the clock for routine cases and its team, although small, is enough for these duties. In an emergency, the Plan calls for external medical help. When a crash involved a large number of victims, who will help them?

In most instances, the Airport's Emergency Plan foresees a scheme to cater to many serious cases, in accordance with their urgency. The various means of communications alert the hospitals of the neighborhood, rescue bases equipped with helicopters, civilian auxiliary corps, and so forth. Theoretically, most of these systems have been put into action during the practice drills. Following a serious analysis, it would be optimistic, however, to expect a perfect reaction. Communications problems, holidays, cold mornings, congested traffic, bad weather, and so forth, might on the day lead to disappointment for those experienced with disaster drills which are usually performed in favorable conditions.