CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT INTERCEPTED BY THE RSAF

RussianPower SG

This morning, two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A-4 fighters were scrambled to intercept a civilian aircraft which was heading towards Singapore air space, after air traffic control authorities could not establish communication with the pilot. The aircraft was then escorted to land at Seletar Airport.

The civilian aircraft was a Portuguese-registered Beechcraft 33. The aircraft was piloted by a Portuguese national, Mr Faria E Mello. The pilot had filed flight plans to Seletar Airport. However, there was a total electrical failure on board and the aircraft had lost radio contact with air traffic control.

Mr Mello has been released after questioning by the police.

In the current security environment, the Republic of Singapore Air Force would continue to maintain a high state of readiness.

-- source MINDEF

duotiga83 SG

hhmmm....not F-5 or F-16? Confused A-4SU?.....but still great Mr. Green

CenturionMBT SG

may i know where did you get your source from?

+Alucard+ SG

u can read the news at www.mindef.com.sg

cavsg SG

this evening about 6:30pm, i happend to saw a few f-5, a-4 and a f-16d landing at paya lebar. i look up to scan the sky and found a fighter in formation with a larger aircraft. it was soon join by a c-130 and 4 fighters which took off from paya lebar. i think the large aircraft most probable was the kc-135. i think they were doing some refueling exercise at 10000ft.

+Alucard+ SG

u can read the news at www.mindef.com.sg

CenturionMBT SG

oic

Viper52 SG

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,205550,00.html?

By Vikram Khanna

SINGAPORE -- Two fighter jets forced a small civilian plane to land on Tuesday after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, the Ministry of Defence said. Singapore is on heightened alert fearing terror attacks.

Two A-4 Skyhawk fighters escorted the Portuguese-registered Beechcraft 33 plane, piloted by Portuguese Fario Mello, to land at Seletar Airport.

The statement said that there was total electrical failure on board and the aircraft had lost radio contact with air traffic control.

The fighter jets were deployed because the aircraft was 'heading towards Singapore air space'.

The statement said the airplane was scheduled to land at Seletar airport, a civilian facility close to a military air base. It did not say where the plane was coming from.

Mr Mello was released after questioning by police, the ministry said.

Singapore is on alert after the arrests of over 30 alleged operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network since 2001.

The group, said to be the South-east Asian wing of al-Qaeda, had plotted to bomb the US embassy, a US Naval base and the main Changi Airport.

The ministry said: 'In the current security environment, the Republic of Singapore Air Force will continue to maintain a high state of readiness.' -- AP

Viper52 SG

Theres a heightened level of flying in Paya Lebar since late last week. The RSAF is rehearsing for the Open House Flying Display item. A-4SUs, F-5s, F-16s and C-130s have been involved.

As for why it was the A-4SU and not F-5/F-16 thats involved in today's intercept, its not hard to figure out. This week's standby fighter unit is 142 or 145 (if it hasn't disbanded) Sqn, hence they were the ones scrambled.

IAF SG

Pecking Order Chart...somewhere in a locker room in tengah ab

Unknown fighter jet - Scramble the vipers
Straying commercial jetliner - Scramble the tigers
Propeller plane intruder and below - Scramble the skyhawks Razz

IAF SG

I wonder what the scene was like at seletar after the plane landed...were there troops surrounding the plane, waiting for the pilot to alight?

"Come out slowly with your hands up!"

i bet that mello fella will never forget this experience...something to tell the grandkids Wink

bcoy SG

In order to reach Singapore, the aircraft would have to pass through Malaysian or Indonesian airspace first.How is it no alarms where raised when all comms failed, and the aircraft not intercepted by our neighbours?

duotiga83 SG

oic....thanks Mr. Green

duotiga83 SG

i also notice also......been hearing jets flying near my place also.....which is very rare indeed Confused

cavsg SG

the guy already file a flight plan to singapore, so we know that he was coming, the intercepting skyhawks would have recognise his aircraft registration number and know he must have technical problems and cannot contact anyone. most probably he could have been straying towards tengah so they have to scramble to keep him out. that also explains why he landed at seletar and not paya lebar where they are rps to arrest him not airport police at seletar.

spencer99 SG

I wonder whether the A4s are used because of their better low-speed performance. It must have been hard-pressed for supersonic jets like F16s and F5s to keep pace with a propellor driven a/c.

It is quite surprising that there are A4s on alert. I always thought that only F5s and F16s are on alert.

Maybe this is the SOP. If slow unknown a/c and unlikely to be fighters, use A4s.

A eye-witness who lives in Teck Whye claims that he saw two fighters surrond and escort the plane away. If that is true die liao as that means that our air defence can only intercept the a/c within visual sight of Singapore. I thought they can intercept them from far away.

But anyway, if it is a real sucide bomber, I am sure the A4 pilots can blow him away with heir 30mm guns.

kopiosatu SG

maybe the equipment failed just when it was arriving at SG?

kopiosatu SG

I wonder if he's too far in for ADA to blow him to bits, instead of getting A4 to gun him down

Viper52 SG

No, like I said it was A-4s who intercepted because this week's standby unit was 142 or 145 Sqn. And its hardly surprising to me that the A-4s are on alert. After all its what combat aircraft do.

Moonstriker SG

when's the open house ?

hmmm speaking of increased flight activity... been hearing alot of fighterplanes flying around bukit batok area this week...