More than 20 enforcement and emergency agencies take part in Ex Urban Falcon 2026, a full-scale air disaster simulation testing readiness for aircraft crashes outside the airport perimeter.
SHAH ALAM: More than 20 enforcement and emergency response agencies participated today in Ex Urban Falcon 2026, a full-scale air disaster simulation designed to test operational readiness and inter-agency coordination should an aircraft crash occur outside the airport perimeter.
Airport Fire and Rescue Services (AFRS) general manager Muhammad Hidayat Ismail said the full-scale exercise at the Denai Alam Rest and Service Area along the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) involved a simulation of an ATR72 aircraft “crashing” about six kilometres from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
“The objective is to ensure Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and other responding agencies are fully prepared to coordinate emergency operations under the aerodrome emergency plan, particularly in the event of an aircraft accident outside the airport area.
“Under the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Manual (NAMSA), AFRS’ area of responsibility covers a radius of up to eight kilometres from the airport’s midpoint,” he told reporters at a press conference here today.
Muhammad Hidayat said the simulation was the first of its kind to involve an aircraft accident scenario beyond the airport perimeter, whereas previous exercises had been held only near the airport boundary.
He said the biggest challenge for the response teams was ensuring a swift arrival at the scene, given the need to navigate narrow roads and pass through multiple toll plazas.
“What I observed from the response agencies was that they carried out their duties according to existing procedures, and the firefighting and rescue operations were executed well.
“I hope this exercise will provide a foundation for improving agency preparedness, given that air disaster scenarios beyond airport boundaries are rarely put to the test,” he said.
He said the significant difference between an aircraft crash inside and outside an airport lies in the lower survival chances of victims, caused by the uneven terrain at off-airport locations.
Muhammad Hidayat said the exercise provided rescue teams with a realistic scenario in which casualties could outnumber survivors, underscoring the need for closer coordination in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operations led by the Royal Malaysia Police.
“Technologically, we are equipped with the latest aircraft firefighting vehicles, built to meet the specifications and standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
“The findings and challenges from today’s exercise will be reviewed at a special workshop on July 26 and 27 to develop improvement measures and strengthen coordinated disaster response efforts,” he said.
Muhammad Hidayat said the sustained commitment from all agencies involved demonstrated Malaysia’s preparedness to respond to potential air disasters, further enhancing public trust in the nation’s aviation safety framework.
The Ex Urban Falcon 2026 drill was conducted through a strategic partnership among MAHB, NADMA, the Selangor state government, and PROLINTAS-DASH, bringing together 450 participants from critical public and private-sector agencies involved in aviation disaster response.
