First responders will conduct a full-scale exercise at Playland on Saturday, April 25, 2026 that simulates an emergency response to the crash of a commercial jet aircraft. Organized by the Westchester County Airport, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and the Westchester County Police, the drill is designed to test Westchester County Airport (HPN)’s Water Rescue Plan as it relates to incident management, communications, law enforcement response, fire/rescue protocols, Emergency Medical Services and environmental management. The exercise is taking place in the lake at Rye Playland, which simulates Rye Lake on the approach to HPN. The exercise, which runs until about 1 p.m., will serve as practice for the emergency service agencies that would normally respond to an aircraft incident at the airport.
Police officials told MyRye.com the drill is around Playland Lake, behind the amusement area, where the park’s paddle boats are in the summer. There will be some spots at that end of the parking lot reserved for the drill, but otherwise all the usual spots at Playland that are open this time of year will be accessible (boardwalk, beach, parking areas, etc.).
Members of the public will observe multiple fire, police and EMS agencies responding into Playland beginning about 9:00am as part of the exercise. There is no emergency. This is only a drill. Electronic variable message signs will be posted on approaches to Playland and at its entrance to advise people coming to the park that a drill is in progress. The amusement area at Playland has not yet opened for the season.
Unlike previous airport-related exercises, Saturday’s drill will not include any live fire or visible smoke. Volunteers who have been dressed up with simulated injuries, along with mannequins staged as crash victims, will be triaged at the scene and taken to waiting ambulances. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that all airports certified to serve aircraft that contain nine or more passenger seats, such as Westchester County Airport (HPN), must have and maintain an Airport Emergency Plan. The FAA requires that HPN review its emergency plan annually and test it through a full-scale exercise at least once every three years.
