When preparation meets real-world technology: DroneControl supports Feuerwehr Bad Friedrichshall during major railway rescue exercise

At DroneControl, we often talk about supporting emergency services when every second matters. This weekend, that mission was brought to life as our platform supported its first fire brigade team in Bad Friedrichshall, Germany, during a major multi-agency railway rescue exercise.

The large-scale simulation, organised by Feuerwehr Bad Friedrichshall alongside Deutsches Rotes Kreuz and Deutsche Bahn, recreated a complex emergency scenario at Bad Friedrichshall-Jagstfeld Hauptbahnhof.

The scenario was intentionally challenging.

A car had become trapped on the railway tracks and was struck by a passenger train, pushing it into a freight train. Multiple casualties were involved, including individuals trapped inside the vehicle, injured passengers onboard the train, and a critically injured person stranded on top of a freight wagon near overhead power lines.

Before rescue teams could even enter the rail zone, emergency teams had to coordinate with Deutsche Bahn to safely shut down the overhead electrical systems. Firefighters then carried out complex extraction operations, while medical teams established a casualty collection point nearby to manage what was treated as a mass casualty incident.

And above it all, drones played an increasingly important role.

According to the official exercise report, drone imagery was analysed inside the command vehicle and used to help coordinate operational decisions between fire commanders, railway officials, medical teams and local authorities.

This is exactly where DroneControl adds value.

Live aerial intelligence is only one part of the picture. During incidents like this, emergency teams need a complete operational ecosystem that allows them to:

• Stream live aerial footage securely to command teams

• Share situational awareness with multiple stakeholders in real time

• Track pilots, aircraft and operational readiness

• Maintain compliance records automatically

• Manage equipment and maintenance schedules

• Keep critical incident data secure and accessible when required

When multiple agencies are operating in a fast-moving and high-risk environment, having fragmented systems creates unnecessary friction. Our goal is simple: give emergency responders one platform that helps them stay coordinated when it matters most.

We’re incredibly proud to support Feuerwehr Bad Friedrichshall as their first firefighting team using DroneControl in operational exercises.

A huge thank you as well to Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Deutsche Bahn and everyone involved in creating such a realistic and valuable training exercise.

Training like this saves lives.

And we’re proud that DroneControl is helping emergency teams prepare for the moments that matter most.

Read more about the exercise here