(AP) -- COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Columbia Metropolitan Airport officials conducted a safety exercise Wednesday morning to make sure they are prepared if and when the time comes.
"Could it happen? Unfortunately yeah, but that's why we're here. But when we do have an accident we want to have at least the best result that we can possibly have," says Stephen Baxter, fire chief with CAE.
In Wednesday's drill, three crew members and 48 passengers aboard an air jet crashed into an open field. Bodies covered the ground with some in the trees and cars nearby exploded from the impact.
Baxter says however, when he makes the call to first responders they are ready to act.
"When you get the real emergency you get the adrenaline it is a dangerous scene out there but they're very well trained, they're well equipped and they know what they're doing."
Every two years the airport and emergency responders' training is tested as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Surrounding agencies step in and offer support when duty calls, something that Baxter says comes with the territory.
"You're clicking off in your head okay I got to do this and this and you just got to work, it becomes instinct, exercises like that, that help that happen."
So that what they practice today can be used should the worst happen tomorrow.
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