Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has stepped up preparations for the upcoming Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX), scheduled to take place on 8 September 2025 at Velana International Airport (VIA). The large-scale drill is designed to test and strengthen emergency response systems at the country’s main international gateway.
The AFEX exercise, a requirement under Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) regulations and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, serves as a critical tool to evaluate VIA’s Emergency Plan. It also assesses the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of participating agencies and airlines, ensuring seamless coordination in the event of an actual crisis.
Simulation and Evaluation Ahead of AFEX
As part of the preparation, MACL and partner agencies conducted a simulation activity at Hulhule Island Hotel today. The exercise mirrored the planned AFEX scenario, allowing participants to test their readiness. Following the drill, officials held discussions to identify strengths, highlight challenges, and pinpoint areas needing improvement.
The session brought together 80 participants from MACL’s key departments and 18 external agencies, with senior MACL executives — Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, Deputy Managing Director Mujtaba Latheef, and Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Lamaan — also taking part.
Scale of AFEX 2025
This year’s AFEX will be one of the most extensive in recent years, featuring 33 participating agencies and mobilizing 391 volunteers. The last full-scale exercise at VIA was conducted in 2022, underscoring the significance of the 2025 edition in updating emergency preparedness measures to match evolving international aviation safety benchmarks.
Reinforcing Aviation Safety in the Maldives
MACL emphasized that AFEX is not only a compliance measure but also a vital mechanism to safeguard passengers, staff, and airport infrastructure. With VIA handling millions of travelers annually and serving as the central hub for the Maldives’ tourism-driven economy, the drill aims to bolster confidence in the airport’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies ranging from aircraft incidents to natural disasters.
By conducting AFEX 2025 on a larger scale, MACL and its partners seek to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and ensure the Maldives remains aligned with global best practices in aviation safety.
