Regulations governing safety stipulate that such drills must be conducted twice a year.

The exercise, which will take place between 11am and 1pm, will assess how quickly various agencies can react in the event of an airport emergency.

All the airport's airlines, the Irish Aviation Authority, the Air Accident Investigation Unit, the HSE, the Garda, the Dublin Fire Brigade, and the National Ambulance Service will be involved.

The public “should not be alarmed” if they see emergency vehicles in use at the airport, according to spokesperson Graeme McQueen.

According to licencing regulations, the exercise's goal is to gauge how the participating agencies will react.

The exercise won't affect flight operations, so people shouldn't be concerned if they see emergency vehicles in action near Dublin Airport on Thursday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.