RSAF jets scramble to intercept civilian aircraft

23 January 08 The Strait Times

RSAF jets scramble to intercept civilian aircraft

SINGAPORE'S airspace was shut down temporarily last night when two air force F16 jets were scrambled to intercept a civilian plane heading here without an appro ved flight plan.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) fighter jets went into action at 6.42pm, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef). They intercepted the single-en gine turboprop Cessna 208 and escorted it to land at Changi Airport.

The plane 'was heading towards Singapore airspace without an approved flight plan', said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim.

Once the Cessna 208 landed, the police took over investi gations.

It is believed the civilian plane, which typically seats nine passeng ers, was flying in from the Thai resort island of Koh Samui when it triggered Si ngapore's air defences.

The resulting shutdown of commercial airspace affected 23 aircraft, disrupting flights in and out of Changi Airport.

The shut down lasted for 50 m inutes from 7.10pm until 8pm, a Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore spokesman told The Straits Times.

She added that 16 incoming flights and six departing aircraft w ere delayed for between 15 and 40 minutes each.

One more inbound aircraft was diverted to Senai Airport in Johor. A passenger on the flight was 34-year-old bu siness executive Philip Koh, who was flying in from Brunei.

His flight was due to tou ch down at Changi Airport at 8pm, but just before its final approach, the pilot informed passengers that the plane could not land because of an 'interception du e to unidentified aircraft'.

The plane was diverted to Senai and stayed on the tarm ac at the airport for about an hour, said Mr Koh. The plane finally arrived at C hangi Airport at about 9.45pm.

Contacted last night, Singapore Airlines said t here were short delays to a few departing flights between 7.30pm and 8pm because the airli ne was waiting for take-off clearances.

This is not the first time the air for ce has been called into action. In August 2003, two RSAF jets intercepted a Portuguese-registered civilian aircraft that breached Singapore's airspace.

Th e pilot, whose plane had run into electrical problems, tried to land at Tengah A irbase before two A4 Skyhawks were scrambled alongside it.

Under escort, the C essna plane later landed safely at Seletar Airport. The 61-year-old pilot was questioned by the police before he was released.

Aviation experts said that following the S ept 11, 2001, attacks, the RSAF operates an enhanced air defence against airborn e terrorist threats, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Air forces the world over have bee n wary of copycat attacks by terrorists commandeering planes as 'guided missiles '.

Colonel Lim said: 'The RSAF continues to maintain a high state of readiness .'