Velana International Airport (VIA) has successfully concluded the Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX) 2025, held on 8 September to assess institutional readiness and coordination in the event of a crisis.

The exercise, conducted from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at VIA, brought together 33 institutions, including airport authorities, emergency responders, airlines, and regulatory agencies. The drill aimed to test the airport’s emergency plan, institutional standard operating procedures (SOPs), and airline protocols in line with the requirements of the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Following the exercise, a debrief meeting was held at Hulhulé Island Hotel, where participants discussed issues observed during the drill and highlighted areas for improvement.

Speaking at the session, CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, emphasised that saving lives in an emergency remains the corporation’s foremost responsibility. He noted that effective communication between institutions is crucial and pledged to address the issues identified. He also thanked all participating stakeholders for their commitment to ensuring safety.

MACL confirmed that the feedback from AFEX 2025 will be used to strengthen response mechanisms and enhance cooperation among agencies to ensure a high level of preparedness at the nation’s main gateway.