By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) has addressed and dismissed widespread rumors circulating on social media regarding a supposed bomb scare at King Mswati III International Airport.
According to the official statement from ESWACAA, the purported bomb scare was nothing more than a routine security exercise designed to assess the effectiveness of the airport’s security systems.
Bongani Lukhele, the Airports Director, clarified the situation in when speaking with the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS).
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He emphasized that the claims of a threat were entirely false and that the activities witnessed at the airport were part of ESWACAA’s standard compliance procedures.
“The nation must remain calm as there is no scare or threat,” Lukhele assured. He explained that these exercises are essential for maintaining the highest standards of security at the airport, ensuring that all necessary protocols are in place to respond effectively to any potential emergencies.
In an official statement, ESWACAA further detailed the nature of the exercise where it explained that it was conducted in collaboration with several key agencies, including the Airport Aviation Security (AVSEC)
department, the Royal Eswatini Police Services, the Operational Support Unit (OSSU), and the National Fire Emergency Services, among others. The statement reads:
“The Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) confirms that the King Mswati III International Airport is currently undergoing a security exercise to evaluate the effectiveness of the airport’s security systems as part of its compliance requirements,” reads the statement.
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“The joint security exercise is being conducted in collaboration with the Airport Aviation Security (AVSEC) department, the Royal Eswatini Police Services, the Operational Support Unit (OSSU), the National Fire Emergency Services, and other relevant state agencies.
As the exercise is ongoing, a detailed debrief will be provided to relevant stakeholders upon its completion.
The public is assured that this is a routine procedure aimed at ensuring the highest level of security at the airport.
ESWACAA remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all passengers and airport stakeholders.”
The further highlighted that the ongoing security drill is part of a larger effort to ensure the airport’s preparedness in handling emergencies.
According to Airport Improvement, it’s a regulation that airports conduct full-scale exercises periodically, involving all relevant entities that would participate in a real emergency.
These exercises are crucial for evaluating the airport’s preparedness and the coordination between its tenants and local response agencies.