MACL trains police in an emergency exercise at Velana International Airport

A specialized training initiative has been organized for the Maldives Police Service in preparation for the forthcoming Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX), set to occur on September 8, 2025, at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The drill, organized by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), aims to evaluate VIA’s emergency response structure, encompassing the airport’s emergency plan, standard operating procedures (SOPs) of collaborating institutions, and the readiness of airlines functioning at the gateway hub.

The training event, arranged by MACL’s Airport Emergency Services (AES), emphasized enhancing collaboration between agencies during emergencies. Police officers received information on the airport’s emergency procedures, the duties of various agencies, resources mobilized during emergencies, and the Incident Command Structure set up at VIA.

Directed by Sergeant Adam Haleem at the Criminal Investigation Building, the initiative involved 86 officers from various ranks and divisions. A major emphasis was on outlining the police's responsibilities in crowd management, security oversight, and cooperation among agencies during possible aviation crises.