HMS Prince of Wales test emergency reactions during training in Portsmouth

Personnel conducted a ‘crash-on-deck scenario’ as they prepare for the Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

It brought together multiple tri-service teams and specialists in emergency response procedures to analyse how HMS Prince of Wales’s ship’s company would deal with crashes and other emergencies on the carrier’s flight deck. 

Lieutenant Mbongiseni Nyathi, an air weapons specialist on HMS Prince of Wales, said: "The scenario involved an F-35 about to take off when its undercarriage failed, causing it to veer off and crash into the island. 

“Our job as subject matter experts is to review that scenario and determine the best possible way of dealing with the accident."

The exercise saw the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron (JARTS); the Defence Safety Authority’s Defence Accident Investigation Branch; explosive ordnance disposal teams; security and the Institute of Naval Medicine gather on board for the assessments.

Using a model wreckage provided by JARTS to create a realistic training scenario, the ship's post-crash management team were first tasked with rescuing casualties before securing the crash site. 

Under the guidance of the JARTS team and hazardous materials specialists from the Institute of Naval Medicine, the crew worked to prevent escalation and further danger to the ship and its personnel.

Once the simulated crash site was under control and immediate hazards mitigated, the exercise shifted to the investigation phase. 

DAIB investigators advised HMS Prince of Wales’s ship’s company on preserving both evidence critical for potential investigations. This included securing CCTV recordings, identifying and interviewing witnesses, and retrieving flight data recorders and other crucial sources.

Squadron Leader Peter Pateman from the DAIB said: "Being able to conduct simulated crash exercises is a key part of DAIB's tools to develop not only DAIB skills but also partner organisations' capabilities.” 

The comprehensive drill provided assurance that should an aircraft accident occur, the ship's company has a well-rehearsed plan to respond effectively and return to normal operations as quickly as possible.

Such exercises are procedure and also essential safeguards that ensure sailors can respond effectively during critical incidents while preserving crucial evidence.