Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

A simulated disaster at Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport on Tuesday tested the effectiveness of emergency responders and administrators.

The scenario: a flock of ducks are sucked into an engine during takeoff, and the plane is forced to make an emergency landing – except, the landing gear doesn’t deploy, leading to a crash.

The airport’s public information officer Shane Carter says the simulation tests the coordination of multiple agencies.

Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

Emergency responders test their skills during a simulated disaster at the Clinton National Airport in Little Rock on April 15, 2025.