RSAF scrambles two F-16s after Malaysian copter flies near Changi Airport; 20 flights delayed

Two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 fighter jets were scrambled on Wednesday afternoon after a Malaysia-registered helicopter flew over the Singapore Strait east of Changi Airport. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a joint statement that the warplanes were scrambled at 12.40pm. “After ensuring that our security was not compromised, the F-16s were subsequently stood down,” the statement said. “Preliminary checks indicate that the helicopter is of a civilian type and registered to a foreign company.” Operations at Changi Airport were affected between 12.50pm and 1.28pm as a result, with nine arrival flights and 11 outbound aircraft delayed. Mindef and CAAS were responding to a query from The Straits Times, after social media platform X user @alert5 posted at 1.10pm about Singapore scrambling F-16 planes in response to a Malaysia-registered helicopter entering the airspace near Changi Airport.<br/>