Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has conducted a special training programme for the Maldives Police Service ahead of the Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX), set to take place at Velana International Airport (VIA) on 8 September 2025.

The training, organised by MACL’s Airport Emergency Services (AES), aimed to familiarise police officers with VIA’s emergency plan, the responsibilities of different institutions, the operation of emergency equipment, and the incident command structure in place at the airport. The session also highlighted the vital role of the police during crisis situations.

A total of 86 police officers from various departments attended the programme, which was held at the Sergeant Adam Haleem Criminal Investigation Building.

AFEX is a mandatory exercise designed to test emergency preparedness in line with standards set by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It also evaluates the coordination of VIA’s emergency plan with those of airlines and other agencies.

As part of preparations, MACL has been holding training sessions with multiple stakeholders, including airport departments, hospitals in Malé, the Ministry of Health, and the Maldives Red Crescent.

The last full-scale emergency exercise at VIA was conducted in 2022, involving more than 400 participants from 30 agencies across aviation and healthcare sectors.