A simulated drone attack on a landing plane,passengers feigning respiratory distress,and visible injuries-these were the unsettling sights at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) recently. Fortunately, the alarming scenario was a meticulously planned exercise, designed to test Senegal’s airport crisis response capabilities. This large-scale drill assessed the reaction and coordination of airport, security, and health authorities, highlighting the growing threat of drone interference in air travel.
senegal Airport Stages Realistic Drone Attack Drill
The exercise, dubbed “Thiely,” is a bi-annual requirement for international airports to ensure preparedness for major crises.
- Operation “Thiely” simulated a drone attack on a commercial airliner.
- The drill involved multiple agencies, including police, the air force, and health services.
- Senegal is required to conduct these large-scale crisis simulations every two years.
- The exercise focused on both safety (accidental events) and security (intentional acts).
“It is required to organize, every two years, a large-scale exercise in crisis management, safety and security. The last one dates back to 2023. it was therefore imperative to hold one in 2025,” explained Colonel François Sambou, secretary general of the High Authority of Senegal Airports. The drill’s realism underscored the increasing need for airports worldwide to address the potential dangers posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.
Askin Demir,general director of LAS,the manager of AIBD,emphasized the exercise’s alignment with the platform’s emergency plan. “Every two years we organize an exercise taking into account recent threats. Today, around the world, the emerging threat is drones. This year’s scenario is therefore based on the intrusion of drones into the airport space,” he underlined.Operation “Thiely” mobilized a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the civil aviation authority, police, gendarmerie, customs, the air force, health services, and private security firms like 2AS and AIBD-SA.
Each participating entity had a clearly defined role in the simulation. “The exercise was led by the Colonel of the Airport Authority. The main objective remains the safety and security of the airport. These simulations allow us to assess our level of preparation, to identify our strengths and weaknesses, and above all to strengthen coordination between the actors,” Demir explained. The scenario deliberately combined elements of both accidental safety incidents and intentional security breaches, recognizing the complex interplay between the two.
“In aviation, safety concerns accidental events, while security concerns intentional ac
Clarification of changes & Answers to Questions:
* Why: The drill, “Thiely,” was conducted to test Senegal’s airport crisis response capabilities, specifically focusing on the growing threat of drone interference. It’s a bi-annual requirement for international airports to ensure preparedness.
* Who: The exercise involved a wide range of stakeholders: the High Authority of Senegal Airports (led by Colonel François Sambou), LAS (led by Askin Demir), the civil aviation authority, police, gendarmerie, customs, the air force, health services, and private security firms (2AS and AIBD-SA).
* What: The drill simulated a drone attack on a landing plane, with passengers feigning distress and visible injuries. It combined elements of both accidental safety incidents and intentional security breaches.
* How did it end?: The article doesn’t state a definitive “end” to the drill, but it implies the exercise was completed and is now being analyzed to identify strengths, weaknesses, and improve coordination. The
