Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for Defence with reference to the scrambling of two RSAF F-16 aircraft on 9 August 2023 in response to a Malaysia-registered helicopter flying over the Singapore Strait east of Changi Airport (a) whether the safety of any aircraft have been compromised by this incident at any point; and (b) what measures will be implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen:

On 9 Aug 2023, a Malaysia-registered civilian helicopter, callsign: 9MCGA flew from Senai Airport in Johor and headed towards Pengerang. During its flight, it transited Changi Control Zone and subsequently entered Singapore Territorial Airspace without prior notification. Singapore Air Traffic Control (SIN ATC) did not receive any flight plan.

As the helicopter had entered Singapore Territorial Airspace at 1237hrs unannounced, two RSAF F-16 fighters were scrambled, consistent with our Standard Operating Procedures for unidentified aircraft in our airspace which may pose potential threats. The helicopter pilot was instructed to keep clear of Singapore Territorial Airspace and to operate eastwards outside Singapore’s territorial airspace.

The helicopter exited Singapore Territorial Airspace at 1303hrs. After ensuring thatthere were no further security threats, the RSAF F-16s subsequently stood down at 1405hrs.

While there was no imminent impact of safety on civilian air traffic during the time that the helicopter was in the Changi Control Zone, the airspace around Changi airport had to be closed in responding to the unauthorised entry. As a result, 36 arriving flights into and eight departing flights from Changi Airport were delayed.

Our assessment is that there was no malicious intent arising from this incident. The helicopter had been contracted to take photographs of a Malaysian-registered oil rig that was being transported from Pasir Gudang to Miri, Sarawak when it mistakenly entered Singapore’s airspace without authorisation.