Plane crash simulated at Bellingham airport for training

The Federal Aviation Administration requires the Port of Bellingham, which operates the airport, to conduct these exercises every three years. The port also conducts smaller training exercises every year, in which the agencies gather and talk through a scenario, but don't act it out.

"This is the pinnacle (in terms of training exercises)," said Neil Clement, the port's emergency management and security officer. "This is the most complicated and the most difficult. It's a great opportunity for a number of different agencies to get training and work together."

About 25 volunteers were assigned fake injuries and symptoms, including cuts and broken bones, which the medics would later have to diagnose and determine the best way to treat.

These volunteers then spread out in a field next to the runway and waited for medics.

After a radio call went out that a plane had crashed, members from Whatcom County Fire District 8 arrived to assess and tag each volunteer based on the severity of their injury.

Medics arrived shortly after that, and carried off the volunteers on stretchers, where they would be treated at the scene or transported to St. Joseph Hospital.

At the same time, airline employees and members of the Red Cross were at another location briefing volunteers who pretended to be the victims' family members.

This occurred at a different location at the airport, and was intended to give those agencies practice in relaying information to the families and help them grapple with their trauma.

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