The Royal Air Force Museum London successfully completed its annual live emergency exercise on Monday 5 October 2026. Now in its third year, the exercise was the Museum’s largest in scope, simulating a serious fire in a server room and adjoining offices in Hangar 3.

Using synthetic smoke and staged casualties, it tested evacuation procedures, rescue and medical responses, incident management and communications, strengthening the Museum’s readiness to respond to a major emergency.

The exercise brought together the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service, including operational crews, specialist vehicles and senior officers. Supported by the Police as observers and with Casualties Union providing 12 volunteer actors to simulate injured and trapped colleagues, while Middlesex University media students provided realistic news coverage and media enquiries.

Led and coordinated by members of the Museum Operations Team, the exercise was supported by Visitor Experience teams, Communications and Marketing team, senior leadership, and staff and volunteers across the site. Their contributions included incident set up, managing evacuations, coordinating the emergency response, protecting collections, testing communications and acting as visitors.

Alan Edwards, Head of Operations at the RAF Museum, said: “Our third annual exercise was our most ambitious yet, giving us an invaluable opportunity to test how we work together under the pressure of a major incident. I would like to thank the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service, Police, Casualties Union and Middlesex University, alongside every Museum colleague and volunteer who contributed. Their expertise and commitment made this exercise a success, helping us strengthen our procedures and our ability to protect visitors, colleagues, infrastructure and collections.”