A special programme has been held at Velana International Airport (VIA) to assess the preparedness of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and other relevant authorities ahead of the Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX), scheduled for 8 September.

The upcoming exercise is designed to test VIA’s emergency response plan, institutional standard operating procedures, and the contingency plans of airlines operating at the airport, ensuring full readiness in the event of a major incident. 

The preparatory session, hosted at Hulhulé Island Hotel, reviewed the level of preparedness for the drill, examined lessons learnt from previous exercises, and identified areas requiring improvement.

Eighty representatives from 18 agencies participated in the exercise, including senior officials from MACL. Attendees included MACL’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, Deputy Managing Directors, Mujthaba Latheef, and Mohamed Lamaan.

AFEX is mandated to ensure that effective measures are in place to manage potential emergencies at VIA, in compliance with standards set by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The last AFEX at VIA was conducted in 2022. This year’s exercise will involve 33 agencies and 391 volunteers.