The Exercise on the Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft was conducted in Macau International Airport early this morning simulating the scenario of a foreign registered aircraft destined to Macao being unlawfully seized by an armed political group. The hijackers demanded the Macao SAR Government to release their group leader who was imprisoned in Macao and pay the ransom. Macau International Airport immediately activated the airport emergency plan to resolve the crisis.  All passengers and crew members were rescued. The exercise was deemed a success.   

In the scenario, a foreign registered aircraft destined to Macao was being unlawfully seized by a foreign armed group who demanded to land the aircraft in Macau International Airport. The hijackers demanded the Macao SAR Government to release their group leader who was imprisoned in Macao and to pay the ransom of USD20 million. The hijackers also demanded that the aircraft be allowed to fly back to the point of origin after the Macao SAR Government has satisfied the first two demands. The hijackers threatened to kill all the people held captive on board, including 20 passengers and 4 crew members, if their demands were not satisfied.

The Airport Emergency Operations Centre was activated immediately after the Macau International Airport was notified of this crisis. The Public Security Police Force acted as the coordinator and the on-scene commander of this crisis management. Representatives from all involved entities arrived at the Centre to work together. As instructed by the on-scene commander, the Judiciary Police held negotiations with the hijackers; the hijackers agreed to release some of the hostages; the negotiations did not progress further and the on-scene commander eventually instructed the Special Duty Unit of the Public Security Police Force to take immediate attack on the hijackers; the attack was successful and all passengers and crew members were saved.      

Carried out once every two years, the exercise of this morning took place from 02:00 to 05:00.  The other participating entities were Unitary Police Force, Macao Customs Services, Judiciary Police, Fire Services Bureau, Health Bureau, Marine and Water Bureau, Civil Aviation Authority, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd, Air Macau Company Ltd., Macau Security Company Ltd. (airport security)and Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd. About 250 people participated in it.