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Straits Time 5 May 2004
Armed police storm SQ jet in false alarm
AMERICAN police officers stormed a Singapore Airlines flight yesterday, after the plane was escorted into Los Angeles Airport by a United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet.
But these anti-terror procedures were not needed, as it was a false alarm.
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A malfunctioning transponder on SQ20, flying non-stop from Singapore to Los Angeles, had sent a signal alerting the airport authorities to a hijack.
It sparked a security alert and the SIA Airbus A340-500 LeaderShip was flanked by the jet as it flew in and landed in a remote section of the airport at around 5.30pm, local time.
News agency AP said: 'Armed police officers immediately stormed the aircraft as hostage negotiation teams rushed to the scene.'
'But within minutes, officials had determined the plane's emergency hijacking signal had malfunctioned and there was no hijacking.'
Aboard the plane were 126 passengers and 14 crew, who disembarked after checks were done.
The incident has puzzled SIA officials, as the aircraft is brand new.
It was introduced on Feb 3 this year, when SIA started the world's longest non-stop flight. The plane takes about 16 hours to reach Los Angeles, and 18 hours to return to Changi Airport.
US Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker said the alarm code must be manually entered by the pilot.
An SIA spokesman said Los Angeles' air traffic controllers 'had received an emergency alarm from the cockpit'.
The airline is investigating the cause.