Glasgow Airport conducts multi agency emergency exercise with fire and rescue partners to strengthen operational readiness coordination and safety under realistic conditions

Glasgow Airport (GLA) has carried out a multi-agency emergency training exercise as part of its ongoing focus on operational resilience and safety.

The exercise took place on 23 April between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm, simulating a controlled incident within the airport environment to test emergency response, communication and coordination across multiple teams.

Glasgow Airport emergency exercise strengthens operational resilience and safety response

The scenario involved a simulated vehicle fire in a multi-storey car park, requiring coordinated command and control in line with established joint working principles. Crews from Glasgow Airport Fire and Rescue Service worked alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, supported by a range of partners from across the airport community.

To ensure realism, fire appliances operated with blue lights, firefighters used breathing apparatus and fire hoses were deployed with water. Synthetic smoke was also introduced to recreate conditions similar to a real incident.

Parts of the car park were temporarily restricted during the exercise, although pedestrian routes remained open to minimise disruption to passengers and maintain airport operations.

The training formed part of the airport’s wider emergency planning programme and provided an opportunity to rehearse procedures under evening operating conditions.

Laurie Wylie, Deputy Airport Fire Manager, highlighted the importance of joint working.

“This exercise provided a fantastic opportunity to work side by side with our colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, allowing us to test the principles of joint working,” he said.

He added that effective coordination is critical in ensuring a rapid and structured response to incidents, with safety remaining the top priority.

Matthew Wilson, Technical Director at Glasgow Airport, said the exercise demonstrated the value of realistic training environments.

“Safety is our highest priority, and exercises like this are essential in ensuring the airport remains fully prepared for any scenario,” he said.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also emphasised the importance of collaboration, noting that joint exercises help strengthen operational readiness and ensure teams are equipped to respond to a wide range of incidents.

Area Commander Eddie Kenna said the exercise allowed firefighters to train in a realistic environment while reinforcing coordination between emergency services and airport teams.

The exercise reflects a broader industry focus on preparedness, ensuring airports can respond effectively to emergencies while maintaining safe and continuous operations.

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