When a foreign air carrier is involved in an emergency, who should be notified?

In the event of an emergency involving a foreign air carrier, the appropriate response is to notify the ARTCC serving the departure or destination airport. The ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) is responsible for managing air traffic and ensuring the safety and coordination of all flights in its control area, including foreign carriers. Prompt notification allows the ARTCC to take necessary actions, provide assistance, coordinate rescue operations if needed, and ensure that other relevant air traffic is aware of the situation.

While other agencies like the FAA also play a critical role in overall aviation safety and regulation, the immediate action in an emergency is to ensure that the ARTCC is informed so that they can handle the situation effectively. The NTSB investigates aviation accidents but is not directly involved in the immediate response to an emergency. Similarly, notifying a military base is generally not relevant, as they do not oversee civilian air traffic operations.