KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu International Airport successfully conducted the Ex Raja Udang 2.0 Full Scale Aerodrome Emergency Exercise here last night.
Airport senior manager Jefry Ramli said the full-scale exercise was meant to test its efficiency and gauge the response time of agencies towards emergencies that could happen during nighttime.
"The last time we did such exercise was in 2018 and none was done for previous years due to Covid-19.
"Tonight (yesterday), the scenario was made at night as we also need to test our ability (to handle) the situation should emergencies happen at night.
"It is also to test whether our assets and other agencies are able to work well and to fix any weaknesses based on this training," he told the reporters during the exercise that concluded at midnight.
At 9.30pm, a made-up scenario saw an aircraft request to start the engine at bay 3A and make final preparation before taxiing and getting permission to take-off from air traffic control.
The pilot entered Runway 02 and was ready to take-off. While the aircraft was at speed 240 km/h to take-off, the pilot suddenly detected some problem with the engine and decided to abort take-off.
In the practice scenario, due to the' high speed and emergency braking, the aircraft skidded off runway 20.
The effect of the accident supposedly caused damage and fire to the undercarriage.'
Response and rescue agencies were then deployed upon the emergency alert.
More than 260 people from 30 agencies took part in the exercise including Malaysia Airports (MAHB), National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM), police, Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and Health Ministry.