Hijack exercise to be held

The Armed Forces of Malta in collaboration with the office of the manager for airport security will today and tomorrow hold a full scale national hijack exercise within the precincts of Malta International Airport.

The AFM said the aim was to exercise and test the crisis management capability of the AFM and other government departments and non-government entities when responding to a simulated hijacked aircraft situation.

Air Malta will be providing one of its airliners to act as the hijacked aircraft during the exercise. It will also be crewed by members of Air Malta flight operations and flight services departments.

Air Malta and MIA will also be providing 'passengers' on board the aircraft. The people acting as terrorists will be provided by the security forces.

The AFM has urged the public not to be alarmed if they see any unusual movements of soldiers, policemen, medical staff as well as fire and rescue services in the vicinity of MIA and St Luke's Hospital during this period.