Sq 117 hijack

last SG · 2006-05-14T22:57:37+00:00

You might be surprised.. but the weapons used at that time was not MP5. They used M16 to storm the plane. Yes, i feel it is abit unwieldy to use M16, but...

JLennon SG

I agree with you. Perhaps I lost what his intention was in the numerous posts. Considering this is the first hijack that the SOF encountered, its a tremendous credit to the planning and training that the mission was smooth.

storywolf SG

CT MP5 make a laser dot thus it does helps alot to be dead on.

Why the CT pick it up ? Well to check if it been ignited , and if it is possible throw it out of the plane !

chunyong SG

Always remember there could be other SFs that is ready for action but has not have the chance to show wat they could do yet or perhaps they have participated but wasn’t given due ‘credit’

Ponders SG

Detachment 81 is not a low profile mission.

It was planned to be published thru out world's newspaper... but it coincided with President Reagan's assassination attempt... so the news was shadowed.

Quirinus SG

I have a mini-library of sorts when it comes to Military History and Military related matters. One of the books I have is titled: "Hijack! SQ117". It's authored by Sumiko Tan, the Straits Times journalist. Perhaps, you could loan a copy from National Library if you're really interested. It's written in re-enactment fashion just like a Crimewatch video so it may get a bit dramatic at times but the facts are legit.

Anyway to answer the questions:
1) The hijackers had three knives (2 table knives and 1 that looks like it's either a large pocket knife or maybe a switch-blade, [pic is in the book]). The bombs they said they had were actually six cylindrical firework canisters that shot sparks up to a meter high. The hijackers had also doused the aircraft in alcohol from the aircraft's liquor store and had made threats to set the aircraft alight.

They did not have any firearms.

2) There were TWO stewards who were pushed out of the plane. One was Steward Bernard Tan and the other was Chief Steward Phillip Cheong. The first suffered some spine injury and was evac by police surrourding the plane. The second ran to nearby police on his own power.

3) As for weapons, the book only says the Commandos used submachine guns and stun granades.

Icemoon SG

Originally posted by Quirinus:
I have a mini-library of sorts when it comes to Military History and Military related matters. One of the books I have is titled: "[b]Hijack! SQ117". It's authored by Sumiko Tan, the Straits Times journalist. Perhaps, you could loan a copy from National Library if you're really interested. It's written in re-enactment fashion just like a Crimewatch video so it may get a bit dramatic at times but the facts are legit.

Anyway to answer the questions:
1) The hijackers had three knives (2 table knives and 1 that looks like it's either a large pocket knife or maybe a switch-blade, [pic is in the book]). The bombs they said they had were actually six cylindrical firework canisters that shot sparks up to a meter high. The hijackers had also doused the aircraft in alcohol from the aircraft's liquor store and had made threats to set the aircraft alight.

They did not have any firearms.

2) There were TWO stewards who were pushed out of the plane. One was Steward Bernard Tan and the other was Chief Steward Phillip Cheong. The first suffered some spine injury and was evac by police surrourding the plane. The second ran to nearby police on his own power.

3) As for weapons, the book only says the Commandos used submachine guns and stun granades.[/b]

I read that book b4.

I think it was mentioned inside .. the SOFs peppered the toilet door with the terrorist inside?

jarrodlim76 SG

Hi All,

Just to sidetrack abit...does anyone here heard of the SQ 117 Hijack song by Jack Neo many years back?

Since this thread started, I've began reminiscing those ah beng army songs, especially this one...anyone here have them to share?

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