Two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 fighter jets were urgently scrambled earlier today (9 August). The cause? A Malaysia-registered helicopter had been detected flying over the Singapore Strait to the east of Changi Airport, according to The Straits Times.
This unexpected event prompted the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to issue a joint statement addressing the incident and the actions taken.
At precisely 12:40 pm, the RSAF F-16 fighter jets were promptly scrambled into action after a Malaysian helicopter flew over the Singapore Straits, before turning around, according to information from FlightRadar24.
The joint statement issued by the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore underscored the primary motive behind scrambling the F-16s.
The key concern was to ascertain whether the nation’s security had been compromised. Once it was confirmed that no imminent danger was posed, the F-16s were stood down.
Preliminary investigations into the incident swiftly shed light on the helicopter’s identity. The aircraft in question was found to be of civilian origin and registered to a foreign company.
Airport Operations Disrupted
While the situation was swiftly resolved and there were no security threats, the incident did have an impact on the airline and flight operations of Changi Airport.
Between 12:50pm and 1:28pm, several flights were delayed due to the necessary precautions taken during the F-16 scramble. Nine arrival flights and eleven outbound aircraft experienced delays as a result.
Singapore Air Force’s statement
Two of our F-16 aircraft were scrambled at approximately 1240hrs in response to a helicopter. After ensuring that our security was not compromised, the F-16s were subsequently stood down. Preliminary checks indicate that the helicopter is of a civilian type and registered to a foreign company.
A big thank you to our air and ground crew who are ever-ready to defend our skies. Salute!