It wasn’t a training exercise - there was a plane near the terminal with a problem which the firies were responding to. We don’t know enough yet, but either they crossed the active runway without clearance (unlikely), or ATC messed up and both the aircraft and the firies were given clearance at the same time.
If the firies were in emergency mode to get to the other plane it’s possible they didn’t hear ATC telling them to stop at the runway, or the call wasn’t made. All speculation of course, I’m assuming the plane was given takeoff clearance.
Terrible accident, but there are processes in place to stop this so somebody made a mistake. I hope it was the firies because at least they don’t have to live with the guilt, as horrible as that is.
Last edited by estuardo; 18th Nov 2022 at 23:17.