Emergency drill set for McCarran on Wednesday

Authorities will conduct a realistic emergency exercise using a passenger jet and a helicopter Wednesday at McCarran International Airport.

The exercise, which took more than a year to plan, will simulate an emergency incident near one of the airport’s busiest taxiways. Local fire, police and rescue personnel will coordinate their response just as they would during a real-world event.

Nearly 200 high school students from four area trade schools will pose as victims. Smoke and pyrotechnics will add to the realism.

Ambulances and rescue helicopters will shuttle the victims to 12 participating local hospitals.

The exercises are required by the Federal Aviation Administration once every three years for airports to maintain their certification.