To test the capacity of the emergency plans and the action plans of the entities and the competence of the personnel in handling aviation security emergencies, the government bodies and the aviation operators involved in airport security jointly conducted the “2020 Airport Security Exercise on Bomb Threat” in Macau International Airport on 23 July 2020 to simulate the activation of the Airport Emergency Plan in response to the finding of a suspected bomb in a checked luggage during security screening in the passenger terminal.  

The exercise took place between 14:30 to 17:00 yesterday, which simulated the scenario of the finding of a suspected luggage by the security inspector during the screening procedures in the passenger terminal. The security inspector requested the passenger of the suspected luggage to go through the second round screening who then fled. The security inspectors searched the luggage and found a suspected bomb in it and immediately reported the case to the senior management and the police. The Airport Emergency Operations Centre was activated and the representatives of all involved entities arrived at the centre to handle the crisis. The police and the security inspectors cordoned off the area and evacuated the people, during which they found the suspect and arrested him. The bomb threat analysis and evaluation group was called to the airport to examine the suspected bomb and confirmed that it was genuine. The bomb was carefully removed to the bomb shelter in the airport and detonated. The suspect was interviewed and found to smuggle the bomb into Macao for conducting attacks in the territory. The bomb threat analysis and evaluation group carried out a comprehensive search in the passenger terminal and confirmed that there were no other suspected bombs in the area. The commander eventually removed the cordon in the passenger terminal.

Coordinated by Public Security Police Force, the bomb threat exercise involved the participation of Unitary Police Force, Macao Customs Services, Judiciary Police, Fire Services Bureau, Health Bureau, Marine and Water Bureau, Traffic Bureau, Civil Aviation Authority, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd, Macau Security Company Ltd. (airport security), Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd, Air Macau Company Ltd., AirAsia, EVA Airways, Starlux Airlines and so on.About 120 participants took part in the exercise which was deemed smooth.