Emergency airway management is associated with a high complication rate. Evaluating the patient prior to airway management is important to identify patients with increased risk of failed airways. Pre-oxygenation of critically ill patients is less effective in comparison to less sick patients. Induction agents are often required, but most induction agents are associated with hypotension during emergency intubation. Use of muscle relaxants is controversial for emergency intubation, but they are commonly used in the emergency department. Supervision of emergency airway management by attending physicians significantly decreases complications. Standardized algorithms may increase the success of emergency intubation. Attention should be paid to cardiopulmonary stability in the immediate post-intubation period.