EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Dec. 4, 2024—A joint mass casualty accident response exercise will require closing General Bond Boulevard from 8 a.m.-noon Dec. 11.

The 96th Test Wing, along with the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, will replicate a major airline crash as part of the exercise.

The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the wing’s ability to establish and maintain command, control, and coordination with multiple agencies on and off base. It also satisfies the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport’s tri-annual review of its emergency action plan.

Exercise participants will include elements from fire, law enforcement and medical. Fire response unit include the Eglin, Ocean City Wright, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, North Bay and Okaloosa Island fire departments; Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety’s emergency management and emergency medical services. Law enforcement agencies include the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, 96th Security Forces Squadron, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. Medical response agencies include the 96th Medical Group, Air Methods, HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital and District One Medical Examiner’s Office.

The 96th TW Safety office and the 96th Force Support Squadron will conduct simulated search and recovery efforts during the event.

For more information, contact the 96th TW Public Affairs Office at 850-882-3931.

96th TW news release