More than 50 emergency response agencies gathered at Reno Tahoe International Airport for a full scale disaster drill dubbed operation “Broken Wing.” The FAA administration requires airports to stage this type of exercise every three years.

Volunteers made up to look like accident victims lay strewn about a grassy area of Reno Tahoe International Airport. In the center of the mess an RTC bus represents the wreckage of a crashed plane. The scene organized by the Washoe County Emergency Management Office to prepare for a day everyone hopes will never come.

First responders are charged with the duty of evaluating the physical and emotional state of victims then treating the most severe first. This is an opportunity to refine the mechanics of a rescue operation, so when the time comes responders won't be overwhelmed by the "human factor.”