Anti-hijacking mock exercise conducted at Chennai Airport
Chennai, June 16
An anti-hijacking mock exercise was successfully conducted on Tuesday at the Chennai International Airport to evaluate and strengthen the operational readiness and emergency response capabilities of multiple security and civil aviation agencies.
The high-profile security drill was held under the supervision of J Anne Mary Swarna, Joint Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, and in the presence of R Ponni, DIG/CASO, along with senior officials from participating stakeholder departments, as per a statement released by CISF
The comprehensive exercise simulated a highly realistic aircraft takeover scenario, utilising a passenger bus to accurately recreate complex operational conditions on the ground.
A total of 339 personnel from diverse agencies participated in the drill, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Local Police, Airports Authority of India (AAI), various commercial airlines, Airport Fire Services, and Air Traffic Control (ATC), it added.
Underscoring the scale of national security coordination, the exercise also witnessed the active involvement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Navy, and the state administration.
Officials noted that the swift, coordinated response from all participants demonstrated a high level of tactical preparedness, operational readiness, and seamless inter-agency coordination.
Such joint military-civilian exercises play a vital role in fortifying protocols against hijacking threats, sharpening immediate operational response capabilities, and ensuring that all security apparatuses can seamlessly work together to tackle evolving global aviation security challenges, it added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
339 personnel! That's quite an exercise. I'm glad they used a passenger bus to simulate the hijacking scenario - makes it realistic. Hope our airports across the country follow similar standards. Safety first, always. 🙏
Impressive coordination between civilian and military agencies. The fact that the Indian Navy and Air Force participated alongside local police shows how seriously India takes aviation security. As someone who flies frequently, this gives me confidence.
Good initiative but I hope the focus is also on passenger screening and baggage checks. Many times we see lapses at smaller airports. Mock drills are fine but daily vigilance matters more. Just saying. 😊
As someone who's worked in aviation security abroad, I appreciate this level of preparedness. The involvement of multiple agencies - from CISF to Coast Guard - shows a comprehensive approach. India is setting a good example for regional aviation security.
Joint Home Secretary herself supervising the drill - that's leadership involvement at the right level. But I wish such exercises were also conducted at night or during peak hours when it's more challenging. Real emergencies don't happen at convenient times. Still, well done to all involved! 👏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.