Civil Aviation Department conducts joint search and rescue drill at Lantau Island

The Civil Aviation Department conducted a joint short-range aeronautical search and rescue exercise with the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army as well as other government departments at Mong Tung Wan, Lantau Island. 

The drill, the first since 2023, aims to enhance collaboration and coordination between the relevant search and rescue units and promote technical exchanges to ensure efficient responses in the event of an emergency.

Starting at 11am on Monday, the exercise simulated an AW139 helicopter with three passengers en route from Shun Tak Heliport to Macau that experienced an engine failure near Chi Ma Wan Peninsula.

The pilot notified the CAD control tower, but the helicopter subsequently disappeared from the radar. The tower later received a notification from the Marine Police that a helicopter had crashed into the sea and fire broke out near the waters of Mong Tung Wan.

Various departments initiated rescue operations, simulating search and rescue as well as firefighting procedures. 

The Fire Services Department dispatched fireboats to extinguish the flames and deployed drones to assist in the search and rescue, locating three survivors.

The Garrison sent helicopters to rescue the injured at sea, while the police found another survivor on the shore before dispatching a personal watercraft to assist.

The third survivor was rescued by FSD's diving unit, transferred from a support speedboat to a fireboat, and sent to the hospital by GFS helicopter.

The drill lasted for an hour, mobilizing around 100 personnel from the participating units.