A plane crash training exercise near Birmingham's NEC, featuring realistic 'casualties' and a damaged ex-RAF jet, aimed to refine the multi-agency response to large-scale emergencies.

The multi-agency drill took place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) near Birmingham on Saturday 13 Sept.

The scenario was a private jet that had crashed onto vehicles below.

The exercise took place just 2 days after the 24th 9/11 anniversary on September 11th.

Multiple live ‘casualty’ actors were brought in to help the exercise that involved West Midlands Police, Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Military and other organisations.

The exercise took place in an open car park away from the exhibition centre itself.

The plane used for the exercise was an ex-Royal Air Force BAe-125 CC3 liaison jet that sustained substantial damage in a hail storm at Kandahar Airport (KDH), Afghanistan in 2013 which was then taken out of service and used for parts.

West Midlands Police said there was 'nothing to worry about' as they released this statement: ‘We are joining other emergency services and partner agencies today (Saturday) for a pre-planned exercise at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

‘This is an exercise to test a multi-agency response to a major incident and will involve WMP, West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Fire Service, Military and organisations who would usually respond to a major incident.

‘There is nothing to worry about – exercises like this are held regularly throughout the country to test our response to a major incident.

‘It will be business as usual for us and all emergency services and partners and you will still receive the same level of service.’

ENDS