KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City International Airport officials say the public shouldn't be alarmed later this week if they see smoke, fire and emergency vehicles driving through the area. The city's Aviation Department and several agencies will be conducting a full-scale emergency exercise from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday to evaluate the city's response to a simulated aircraft emergency. Airport spokesman Joe McBride says the activities are part of a continuous effort to keep passengers, the public and airport staff safe. The Federal Aviation Administration requires KCI to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise once every three years and smaller drills during off-years. Thursday's exercises will include explosions, smoke generators, debris on the airfield and volunteers acting as injured passengers.
The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on newsgathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.