Airline passengers taxiing to and from runways at San Jose International Airport this morning may notice an abundance of police and fire vehicles taking part in a federally mandated disaster drill.
The drill will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. next to the airport's north concourse. Airport officials say passengers inside the airport shouldn't notice anything unusual.
The Federal Aviation Association requires airports to conduct a full-scale drill every three years. San Jose police, fire and medical personnel will participate, along with the Red Cross and other groups.
The drill will simulate a disaster in which a charter plane loses control during takeoff and veers across the runway, according to the city.
Approximately 80 volunteers will stand in as displaced passengers and injured persons.
The drill will allow the city to test communication and disaster-response procedures that would be used during a real-life incident.
