Today, from 10:30 to 12:00, a planned search and rescue exercise, “SAR-2026”, will take place near Tirana International Airport “Mother Teresa”. It is organized by the National Search and Rescue Center (QKKSH), in cooperation with the institutions and structures responsible for emergency response in the event of aviation accidents.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the exercise will involve the Armed Forces, Tirana International Airport (TIA), the State Police, ALBCONTROL, the National Authority for the Investigation of Operational Safety in Civil Aviation (AKISA), the National Medical Emergency Center (QKUM), the Fire Protection and Rescue Service, and the Albanian Red Cross.
The exercise will be based on a simulated scenario in which an aircraft leaves the runway and crashes outside the airport perimeter.
The aim is to test response procedures, interinstitutional coordination, and the deployment of search and rescue units for the evacuation and rescue of passengers and crew.
“During the exercise, citizens may notice increased movement of emergency vehicles in the area near the airport. The Ministry of Defence clarifies that this is only a planned exercise and that there is no real emergency“, the statement further says.
The exercise aims to increase operational readiness, improve cooperation between participating structures, and strengthen national capacities to handle emergency situations in civil aviation.