Story by Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez June 11, 2026 at 11:28AM Flames rose from a simulated aircraft wreckage site as emergency vehicles converged from every direction. Nearby, volunteer victims waited for treatment, firefighters coordinated rescue efforts, and emergency managers tracked the situation from the Emergency Operations Center.
The Utah Air National Guard joined local, state, and federal partners May 28 during Exercise Green Thunder 2026, a full-scale mass-casualty exercise at Salt Lake City International Airport designed to strengthen regional emergency response coordination and readiness.
The exercise simulated a catastrophic aircraft crash involving civilian and military passengers, requiring responders to manage fire suppression, casualty care, security operations, emergency communications, public information, and command-and-control functions.
Airmen from across the Utah Air National Guard took part in fire emergency services, medical response, security forces, emergency management, and public affairs operations. The exercise also activated emergency operations personnel, allowing agencies to practice information sharing and decision-making during a complex incident.<br /><a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/567426/utah-air-national-guard-joins-regional-partners-large-scale-mass-casualty-exercise"><img src="https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2606/9742812/250w_q95.jpg" width="250" alt="Utah Air National Guard joins regional partners in large-scale mass casualty exercise" /></a>
