In his article ‘Security at the airport’ (December 2), Martin Scicluna attempted to sow doubt about security standards in Malta and its international airport. Fortunately, none of the arguments he brought up in his feeble attempt to prove this hold water. The article is factually wrong on a several counts.
The first of Scicluna’s faux pas is found in his mention of the hijack of Air Malta flight KM830 in 1997. It is indeed surprising to see Scicluna (who was a member of the board of inquiry investigating the case) making such an elementary slip-up in quoting the destination of the said flight and the airport where it was diverted to. KM830 was, in fact, bound to Istanbul and was diverted to Cologne. Frankfurt Airport mentioned in Scicluna’s article as the destination of the flight never featured in the ordeal.
With reference to the incident of the Italian couple who exited from the departures lounge onto the apron, it is to be pointed out that the people in question never dashed through security but were screened like all other passengers at the screening point. It was only after they were screened that they misused an emergency exit in the lounge to access the apron. At no time was there any contamination of the secure area.
Aviation security in the European Union and western countries underwent a complete overhaul over the last 15 years
As for the incident involving a British woman who stole a suitcase after being granted access to the baggage reclaim area, it is worth explaining that the area in question is not classed as a security restricted area. Access to this area, although controlled, does not necessarily require a person to be in possession of an airport pass.
From investigations carried out after this incident it was revealed that the procedures in place were not strictly adhered to in this case and appropriate action was immediately taken.
Neither of these mishaps can be categorised as an incident that compromised aviation security.
Indeed, Scicluna’s evident lack of knowledge and insight into how the aviation security industry works nowadays exposes him to be stuck in 1997, when he last played a “role” in this sector.
Aviation security in the European Union and western countries underwent a complete overhaul over the last 15 years, not least because of the September 11 attacks, which showed that civil aviation remained one of the primary targets of terrorism. Malta was always at the forefront in implementing the changes required in view of the evolving threat.
To this effect, the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), drawn up by Aviation Security Malta, provides regulations, standards and guidelines which protect civil aviation in Malta from unlawful acts.
Further to this, the National Civil Aviation Security Quality Control Programme is in place to ensure compliance with and validate the effectiveness of the NCASP. All aviation stakeholders in Malta that are directly responsible for the implementation of aviation security measures are in duty bound to implement the relevant procedures directly applicable to their industry and are also subjected to compliance monitoring by Aviation Security Malta.
Both the National Civil Aviation Security Programme as well as the National Civil Aviation Security Quality Control Programme are approved by the European Commission.
As part of the national quality control programme, Aviation Security Malta (Avsec) conducts both covert and overt tests to simulate unlawful acts for the purpose of examining the effectiveness and implementation security measures.
Furthermore, all reports of monitoring activities conducted by Avsec Malta are submitted to the European Commission on a regular basis.
In addition to controls on departing passengers at MIA, airport staff (including loaders and cleaners) and items carried, are screened 100 per cent.
The same applies to vehicles, in-flight supplies and airport supplies entering the security restricted area. This is supplemented by extensive CCTV coverage which allows for the effective monitoring of the entire airport.
On top of all of this, in view of Malta’s membership of the EU’s one-stop security for aviation security, the European Commission and a host of other organisations carry out inspections and audits at MIA on a regular basis.
All passengers who are travelling through Malta can, therefore, rest assured that the highest standards in aviation security are applied and enforced at Malta International Airport.
Mario Bugeja is head aviation security at Aviation Security Malta and Patrick Murgo is head, Airport Security, MIA plc.