Emergency crews rushed into action Saturday, coming to the rescue in a worst-case scenario - but only as a training drill.

At the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station around 50 actors took part in an organized simulation, meant to portray a plane crashing into the crowd of an air show. Required by the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration, facilities hosting air shows must demonstrate that they can respond in an emergency.

In addition to emergency crews that are on the reserve, other companies from the community took part in the training. Officials at the reserve station say despite the requirement, the training is essential anyway.

"If you have a perfect exercise then you really haven't paid attention and you're not trying. Any exercise is going to need some work so what we're going to do is we go back and now we're able to take the things we've learned and apply it, maybe make some changes to our instant action plan overall and then we have a more perfect process for the air show itself which is obviously the real thing and that's the most important thing," said Joseph Foucha, Niagara Falls ARS Fire Department Assistant Chief.

The Thunder of Niagara International Air Show that's free and open to the public, will take place June 9 and 10 at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.