HONG KONG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)'s emergency response capability was put through its paces when a rescue exercise involving sea, land and air operations was carried out on Friday.

    The exercise, codenamed Crash Exercise 2009, simulated an incoming flight from "Miza" to HKIA that crashed while landing on the North Runway.

    As part of the scenario, the aircraft, carrying around 280 passengers and crew members on board, broke into two sections, with its main fuselage coming to rest in a taxiway. And a number of passengers were found in the nearby water west of the North Runway.

    Large-scale rescue work immediately commenced when the Air Traffic Control Tower activated the crash alarm. The first rescue team responded to the alarm and arrived at the scene within two minutes of the accident.

    More than 1,200 people participated in the drill and a Government Flying Service helicopter was mobilized to help search for survivors.