THE full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise, named ‘Ex Harimau Kumbang’, was successfully carried out today at Penang International Airport (PIA).
According to Superintendent Nermaljit Singh Bakthtawar Singh, the exercise is essential for assessing the preparedness level and the effectiveness of coordination between agencies, especially in managing incidents similar to a recent aircraft accident abroad.
“As part of the simulation, a scenario was enacted in which an aircraft carrying 134 individuals, including crew members, crashed on the runway, resulting in five fatalities. The remaining victims were categorised into red, yellow, and green stages based on the severity of their injuries.
“The drill involved 28 agencies and 550 personnel. It was conducted from 10 am to 11 am, during which all airport flight movements were suspended to ensure the smooth execution of the exercise.
“This exercise is conducted every two years to prepare for emergencies involving aircraft accidents, while safety drills are carried out annually to ensure that airport operations and flight paths remain secure,” Nermaljit added.
Also present at the press conference were PIA chief operating officer Mohd Ridzuan Ahmad Walid and airport fire chief Noor Azirul Hafiz Maanor.
The drill was a collaborative effort among several agencies, including the police (PDRM), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS), the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), the Nursing Institute, and medical officers.
Meanwhile, Noor Azirul shared that a ‘Notice to Airmen’ (NOTAM) regarding obstacles on the affected runway was issued earlier to pilots to ensure safety was not compromised during the exercise.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Emergency exercise : Pix courtesy of Utusan Malaysia & The Sun
Below are some pictures of the emergency simulation scenario :-
