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Tri-national exercise simulates northern plane crash

Last Updated: Wednesday, April 4, 2007 | 5:11 PM CT

CBC News

Military and search-and-rescue personnel from Canada, the United States and Russia dealt with a simulated airline crash on Vancouver Island on Wednesday to help be prepared if a large passenger plane ever crashes in the North.

The exercise took place near Campbell River, B.C., but it was designed to train troops to deal with a major airliner crash in remote, inhospitable parts of the North.

"I think the level of confidence is pretty high for everyone involved. That's the whole reason we do the exercise," said Lt. Steve Neta, a Canadian Forces spokesman based in Winnipeg.

More than 50 actors played victims in a simulated aircraft crash scene, requiring treatment for injuries on-site and being flown to hospital for medical treatment.

Neta said Russia, the U.S. and Canada have been working on Arctic rescue plans together for the past decade.

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