Don’t panic, but we have word on good authority that several local men and women plan to crash an airplane today at the Natchez-Adams County Airport.

Fortunately, the airplane is an imaginary one, and the “crash” is all for a good reason — practice.

We’ve all heard the saying “practice makes perfect,” and that’s true in most things like shooting firearms and hurling free throws.

But when you’re in the business of emergency response and your “day at the office” can be a literal disaster, the practice must be more concerted and a bit staged.

Since no one has volunteered to fly an airplane into the ground for the greater good, the scene will be made up.

Today’s planned drill is a test of the emergency response plans that local first responders will use should an actual airplane ever crash at the airport.

Our area is blessed to have really great, dedicated men and women who work as first responders. We are so thankful that they are willing to put their on families on hold — and sometimes their lives on the line — to protect all of us.

We applaud their efforts to keep their skills honed and ready for the day when the disaster isn’t practice and the lives on the line are very real.