SHAH ALAM, July 16 — The Ex Urban Falcon air crash drills were held today, bringing the nation’s air disaster management preparations to new levels with Malaysia’s first-ever full-scale plane disaster simulation near the Denai Alam rest stop here.
Airport Fire Rescue Service (AFRS) general manager Muhammad Hidayat Ismail said the exercise aims to ensure optimal emergency response in the event of a disaster involving a plane.
He added that the drills, conducted near the rest stop on the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH), tested Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and over 20 public and private agencies’ capabilities in handling a plane crash beyond airport perimeters.
“Based on the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Manual, AFRS is responsible for areas from the midpoint of an airport to an 8km radius from the airport.
“That is why today you see an AFRS engine out and responding to today’s plane crash (drill),” he said when met at the site here today.
Hidayat said today’s drill scenario was a Melati Air ATR 72 craft with 70 passengers including crew, which experienced engine problems soon after departing the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
“After they ascended, there was a problem with the engine and the plane had to turn back, and when turning back, it crashed near the Denai Alam rest stop,” he said.
He added that all responding agencies involved successfully performed their duties according to standard operating procedure (SOP), including by extinguishing fires, rescuing “victims”, and identifying “bodies”.
“I hope these drills are a starting point for agency readiness levels because we usually hear about disasters like floods, landslides and such … it is rare for us to test air disasters outside airports,” he said.
According to Hidayat, the simulation is part of the National Air Disaster Readiness Programme 2026, and findings from the drills will be tabled at the Air Disaster Management Workshop on July 26 and 27 to identify improvements in managing aircraft emergencies beyond airport perimeters.
Earlier, around 450 participants from over 20 public and private agencies joined the Ex Urban Falcon exercise, including MAHB, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), and the Selangor State Disaster Management Unit.
Also involved were the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Health Ministry (MOH), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Civil Defence Force (APM), and Information Department (JAPEN).
The drills, handled by MAHB, involved areas beyond airports in an “aircraft accident off airport” two-phase scenario.
The first phase was a tabletop exercise at Dewan Jubli Perak, while the second phase was today’s full-scale exercise.
Yesterday, state executive councillor for disaster management Mohd Najwan Halimi said the programme considers Selangor’s position as the gateway for international investments and tourism and its two strategic airports.
He said the drills are the state government’s effort to prepare responders for any emergency situation involving the nation’s main entry points.
