Qatar Emiri Air Forces have carried out military exercise “stricken plane”, aimed at assessing the readiness levels of emergency units.
The exercise also aims to help the participating units gain experience on the procedures they need to follow in different situations. It also aims to provide training for dealing with potential accidents. Commenting on the exercise was the Commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force Major General (Pilot) Mubarak bin Mohamed al-Kumait al-Khayarin.
He said that the exercise was a vital component of training. It focuses on dealing with accidents related to the air force or other state institutions. It is one of many exercises that the air force holds to improve the alert level of its individuals and units, the commander added. 
He added that there were a large number of local, regional, and international exercises that focus on dealing with bigger crises such as oil leaks, forest fires. Those exercises focus also on how to manage such events, the commander said. 
Al-Khayarain gave an example of The Eagle Resolve (Hasm Al Oqban) exercise that took place in Kuwait in which Qatar participated alongside other GCC forces. The Commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force said that all those exercises are then evaluated by the armed forces to develop future training exercises.
Stricken plane exercise simulates a scenario where a C17 military transport aircraft, as a result of an over-heated engine, catches fire while emptying a highly flammable shipment. The units participating in the exercise must then follow the procedures that include informing the Civil Aviation Authority, the medical services department at the armed forces, the Ministry of Public Health and the Hamad International Airport’s emergency planning and crisis management department. 
The commander stressed that the equipment used in the exercise is state of the art and can deal with different buildings, whether factories or towers, as well as the largest and most modern planes depending on the accident. He added that the personnel who took part received high level training.
Meanwhile Major-General (Pilot) Mohamed Hassan al-Qahtani said that the exercise is an annual one focused on improving the level of co-operation and harmony between the units when dealing with such accidents.