There was a lot of commotion at the Thunder Bay International Airport this morning, following the apparent crash of a helicopter there.
But the scenario was not real. Ornge Medical Transport and Thunder Bay emergency crews were instead responding to a mock disaster, designed to make sure everyone involved is prepared for such emergencies.
Ornge operations manager Paul Richard said the simulated helicopter crash involved two pilots, two paramedics and a patient receiving major injuries.
Richard said he is happy with the response times, and calls the event a learning experience.
Richard said pilots and paramedics are used to helping people in trouble, so the mock crash was about learning how to respond when their own staff is involved.