Advanced preparation for rescue and medical action in an emergency landing disaster in Maltese waters

Abstract

Air traffic into Malta is heavy for such a small island, especially during the busy summer tourist season. Almost every type of aircraft flies in, including Jumbos with up to 450 passengers. Eversince the airport has been the sole responsibility of the Maltese authorities there have been two minor incidents; one in which a small private plane made a crash landing (minor iniuries) and a!1other when a commercial air- craft engine caught fire on take-off. Both incidents were efficiently dealt with. The is land is only 10 km in width at the widest point and Luqa airport is only 6-7 km distant, from each coast. The flight path along the main runway passes over the Grand Harbour on the east and over high cliffs on the west. At landing speeds this is' approximately 1 minute of flying time, so there is a considerable likelihood that, in the even t of a disaster it could be at sea.