KUALA LUMPUR, 14 November 2026 — Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has undergone a major security exercise to assess its operational resilience, crisis response capabilities and ability to maintain security continuity amid increasingly complex threats to critical infrastructure.

The four-day Exercise Eagle Stealth 2026 (Ex Eagle Stealth) was held at KLIA Terminal 1 from 10 to 13 November, involving 1,166 personnel from various government agencies, security forces and corporate organisations.

Organised by the National Security Council (NSC), Prime Minister’s Department, in strategic collaboration with Malaysia Airports, the exercise aimed to evaluate inter-agency coordination, operational procedures and preparedness in responding to security incidents that could affect aviation safety and airport operations.

Multi-Threat Scenarios Test Emergency Response Capabilities

Exercise Eagle Stealth 2026 was conducted in accordance with NSC Directive No. 18: Policy and Mechanism for the Management and Handling of Terrorism Crises (2023 Revision).

The programme incorporated four main training components: seminars, Tabletop Exercises (TTX), Field Training Exercises (FTX) and After Action Reviews (AAR).

Participants were tested against four major threat scenarios:

• Aircraft hijacking: Assessing security preparedness and coordinated responses to threats involving commercial aviation.
• Drone threats: Evaluating the ability of security agencies to address risks associated with unauthorised drone activities around airport facilities.
• CBRNE threats: Addressing potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents.
• Communication disruptions and cyber threats: Testing preparedness for disruptions to communication systems and cybersecurity-related security incidents.

The scenarios were designed to assess how agencies coordinate their responses to different types of security emergencies, particularly situations requiring simultaneous action across multiple operational areas.

1,166 Personnel and Multiple Agencies Participate

The exercise brought together personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and Department of Information Malaysia (JAPEN).

Corporate sector participation included SAPURA Research Sdn. Bhd., PETRONAS and Weststar Engineering Sdn. Bhd.

The involvement of government agencies and private-sector organisations reflects the Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, which emphasises coordinated efforts between public institutions, security agencies and industry stakeholders.

Such collaboration is essential to ensuring that participating organisations understand their respective responsibilities during emergencies while strengthening communication, resource coordination and crisis management capabilities.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Operational Continuity

As one of Malaysia’s critical national infrastructure assets, KLIA requires a high level of security preparedness to address an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Disruptions to airport operations can affect more than aviation services, potentially impacting passenger movements, economic activities and international transportation connectivity.

Against this backdrop, exercises such as Ex Eagle Stealth provide an opportunity to assess existing crisis management procedures and evaluate the readiness of participating agencies to respond to different security scenarios.

The inclusion of cybersecurity and communication disruption scenarios also highlights the growing importance of digital security in protecting modern critical infrastructure.

As airport operations become increasingly dependent on interconnected systems and communications, maintaining security readiness across both physical and digital environments remains an important part of national infrastructure protection.

National Security Council Strengthens Crisis Preparedness

The National Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security, public order and sovereignty through proactive measures, strategic coordination and closer cooperation among security agencies and relevant stakeholders.

Exercise Eagle Stealth 2026 serves as a platform to evaluate crisis management mechanisms, identify areas for improvement and strengthen coordinated response capabilities.

Continued exercises of this nature are important in ensuring that critical infrastructure facilities such as KLIA maintain appropriate levels of preparedness against evolving security threats, while supporting operational continuity and the safety of Malaysia’s aviation sector.