Training Exercise at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport

The City of Concord will hold a training exercise at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The training exercise will simulate an emergency response to an aircraft incident.

Residents and motorists traveling in the area surrounding the airport may see smoke and a large presence of emergency vehicles. This is a training exercise only. The public should only call 911 if they are experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to hold full-scale emergency response exercises at least every three years.

"It's critical that we practice our response to emergency situations, so that when an incident occurs in our city, we are prepared to provide the best and most efficient response possible," said Ian Crane, Division Chief - Emergency Management, Concord Fire Department.

Local law enforcement, fire, EMS, and community organizations will participate in the exercise. Volunteers will also role play victims with injuries of various degrees of severity. The exercise is designed to provide the most realistic training possible to best prepare first responders and airport personnel to effectively respond in the event of a real emergency.

Due to the training exercise, airport operations and the runway at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport will be closed from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15. Pilots and users of the airport have been notified.