Technology Readiness and Airport Security: Crisis Management of Drone Threats at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Abstract

Introduction: Drone incursions pose increasing risks to aviation security, requiring airports to strengthen technological and organizational preparedness.

Objectives: This study examines how technology readiness and technology usage influence crisis management effectiveness at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Methods: Employing a quantitative design, data were collected from 136 management and security-related staff, with SPSS used for descriptive analysis and SmartPLS for assessing the measurement and structural models.

Results: The findings show that three dimensions of technology readiness technology adoption, infrastructure preparedness, and staff training significantly enhance crisis management, mainly through their impact on technology usage. Policy and procedures, while necessary for governance, showed no significant direct influence on technology usage or crisis response. Technology usage itself demonstrated a strong positive effect on crisis management and served as a key mediating factor linking readiness components to crisis outcomes.

Conclusions: Based on these results, the study proposes a structured framework emphasizing advanced technology integration, resilient infrastructure, continuous training, and alignment of policies with operational practices. The study contributes theoretically by clarifying the mechanisms through which readiness drives crisis effectiveness, and practically by offering a model for improving drone threat management in aviation settings. The findings provide actionable insights for airport authorities and regulators working to enhance preparedness against emerging unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats.