MARCH 6, 2026 – Firefighters from the Arizona Guard’s 162nd Wing participated in a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise Feb. 25 at Tucson International Airport.
The exercise, hosted by Tucson Airport Authority and required every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration, ensures the airport remains prepared to respond to aircraft emergencies. The training included a simulated aircraft incident designed to test the coordinated response of airport personnel and first responders. Volunteer role players participated to help replicate real-world conditions.
The exercise brought together airport personnel, 162nd Wing Emergency Management and Fire Department and regional mutual aid agencies to evaluate emergency response procedures and coordination during an aircraft emergency scenario.
“Preparedness exercises are the foundation of effective emergency response,” said Mike Hammarstrom, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Emergency Management South Region liaison. “They provide a critical opportunity to work with emergency response partners to test our coordination, identify gaps and ensure we are all working from the same playbook when real disaster strikes.”
Exercises like these strengthen interoperability between military and civilian responders and reinforce the Air National Guard’s commitment to readiness and community partnership.
“Today’s exercise showcased the 162nd Wing’s Fire and Emergency Services’ capabilities in responding to an in-flight emergency at Tucson International Airport [TIA],” said Master Sgt. Ruben Robles, 162nd Emergency Management superintendent. “This event highlighted the critical importance of our collaboration with invaluable mutual aid partners. This collaboration is key to ensuring the safety of all operations conducted at TIA.”
The 162nd Wing trains and develops combat-ready Airmen who support homeland defense, build international partnerships and deliver airpower in support of national defense objectives. Through realistic training and strong coordination with local partners, the wing remains prepared to respond to emergencies at home while supporting Air Force and National Guard missions worldwide.
By Staff Sgt. Guadalupe Beltran
Arizona National Guard