Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that operations at the country’s main international airport will be “closed” for three hours this Wednesday, for an emergency exercise.

A statement issued by the company on Sunday said that all operations at Velana International Airport will be closed from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesday, for “a full-scale emergency exercise”.

Noting that the exercise is “as per civil aviation regulations”, MACL said that this will enhance the airport’s emergency preparedness.

The company further noted that the purpose of the exercise is to test out their plans incase of an emergency, and to pinpoint the difficulties in these plans.

In addition to local civil aviation authority, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires member airports to create an emergency plan and conduct full-scale exercises every three years.