Quito Airport Security Measures Address Concerns After Guayaquil Incident

Following a deadly shooting at Guayaquil airport on June 17, 2026, Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport has detailed its security measures to prevent similar incidents. The attack in Guayaquil, which resulted in one fatality and one injury, raised questions about airport security across Ecuador.

Quito's airport operates under an Aerodrome Emergency Plan approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This plan outlines procedures for various acts of illicit interference, adhering to national and international standards. While the general framework is public, specific response actions to armed attacks are classified for security purposes.

The airport's security strategy involves a layered approach. Armed personnel from the National Police and private security guards are stationed in public areas of the terminal. These teams maintain continuous coordination, and the airport has direct communication channels with the ECU 911 emergency service for prompt incident response.

The Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Servicios del Aeropuerto de Quito (Epmsa) stated that the permanent presence of police and private security ensures immediate responses to security incidents. The airport also conducts regular drills simulating critical scenarios, including attacks targeting specific individuals, to adapt its security measures to evolving threats in collaboration with relevant authorities. These preventive actions are considered fundamental to the airport's overall security strategy.