2 Aussies Shut Down Singapore Airspace for 50 Minutes, 2 F-16s Scrambled to Intercept
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Civilian plane was no defence threat
By NG CHENG YEE
PETALING JAYA: The civilian plane which flew by Kota Baru and caused the shutdown of Singapore's commercial airspace for 50 minutes on Tuesday, was no threat to Malaysia's defence.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said that was the reason the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) had allowed the plane from the Thai resort island of Koh Samui to enter Malaysian airspace.
"It was just a small plane and we had confirmed that it was no threat to the country's defence," he said after attending the memorial service of Prof Dr Wolfgang Franke here on Saturday.
He said the DCA immediately informed its Singaporean counterpart after getting information from the Thai DCA that the plane was having some problems and needed to be repaired in the island-nation.
It was reported that Singapore scrambled two F-16 fighters to intercept the aircraft, which was illegally heading towards the city-state's airspace.
The incident caused disruption of flights in and out of Changi after it sparked a major security alert.
By NG CHENG YEE
PETALING JAYA: The civilian plane which flew by Kota Baru and caused the shutdown of Singapore's commercial airspace for 50 minutes on Tuesday, was no threat to Malaysia's defence.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said that was the reason the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) had allowed the plane from the Thai resort island of Koh Samui to enter Malaysian airspace.
"It was just a small plane and we had confirmed that it was no threat to the country's defence," he said after attending the memorial service of Prof Dr Wolfgang Franke here on Saturday.
He said the DCA immediately informed its Singaporean counterpart after getting information from the Thai DCA that the plane was having some problems and needed to be repaired in the island-nation.
It was reported that Singapore scrambled two F-16 fighters to intercept the aircraft, which was illegally heading towards the city-state's airspace.
The incident caused disruption of flights in and out of Changi after it sparked a major security alert.
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Seems like the Malaysian DCA is trying to make excuses to cover their stupidity...
In the first place how can they be sure that the plane is not a thread? Furthermore the plane flew the entire Malaysian peninsula from West to East, transiting many controllers along the way, and overflying couple of military controlled airspaces, and yet no one in Malaysia can be bothered about it...
JA
In the first place how can they be sure that the plane is not a thread? Furthermore the plane flew the entire Malaysian peninsula from West to East, transiting many controllers along the way, and overflying couple of military controlled airspaces, and yet no one in Malaysia can be bothered about it...
JA
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Hey spacepod, i'd like to see the kind of reaction in the U S of A , or Sydney if a couple of light a/c were buzzing the downtown areas. The paranoia post 9/11 persists.
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Singapore airspace infringement
Hi Guys
I am a first time poster.
Dont forget that in 2002 the local al Qaeda aligned group JI planned to hijack an aircraft and crash it into Changi Airport. Even a light aircraft crashing into the terminal would have a major effect; hence the concern. Imagine what it would do to the Singapore tourist industry and the use of Changi as a major hub.
I am a first time poster.
Dont forget that in 2002 the local al Qaeda aligned group JI planned to hijack an aircraft and crash it into Changi Airport. Even a light aircraft crashing into the terminal would have a major effect; hence the concern. Imagine what it would do to the Singapore tourist industry and the use of Changi as a major hub.
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So the plot thickens re: The 2 Australians held in Singapore.
Prior to Christmas this aircraft was sold out of Cocos (A failed, bankrupt Koh Samui real estate development co) to a Directors wife in Thailand.
She then VERY PROMPTLY sold it to Mary Cummins at mates rates.
It then went VERY PROMPTLY (and over Christmas and New Year when the bureaucrats are on holidays) OFF the Thai register and onto the aussie register.
All by 8th January too! An Aviation record.
The MD of Cocos was arrested leaving Thailand on 15th January on matters related to Coco International.
Thomas (the pilot of this cessna 208 amphibious aircraft) did the runner on the 25th January. Yes out of Thailand and yes intercepted by 4 f16's in Sigapore enroute to Australia.
To all those ripped off by coco's, hope you get the plane back so you can get funds that are rightfully ours - back.
To Mary, Rhys, and your other cronies - you need to be dealt with the full extent of the law.
Prior to Christmas this aircraft was sold out of Cocos (A failed, bankrupt Koh Samui real estate development co) to a Directors wife in Thailand.
She then VERY PROMPTLY sold it to Mary Cummins at mates rates.
It then went VERY PROMPTLY (and over Christmas and New Year when the bureaucrats are on holidays) OFF the Thai register and onto the aussie register.
All by 8th January too! An Aviation record.
The MD of Cocos was arrested leaving Thailand on 15th January on matters related to Coco International.
Thomas (the pilot of this cessna 208 amphibious aircraft) did the runner on the 25th January. Yes out of Thailand and yes intercepted by 4 f16's in Sigapore enroute to Australia.
To all those ripped off by coco's, hope you get the plane back so you can get funds that are rightfully ours - back.
To Mary, Rhys, and your other cronies - you need to be dealt with the full extent of the law.
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Seems like the Malaysian DCA is trying to make excuses to cover their stupidity...
In the first place how can they be sure that the plane is not a thread? Furthermore the plane flew the entire Malaysian peninsula from West to East, transiting many controllers along the way, and overflying couple of military controlled airspaces, and yet no one in Malaysia can be bothered about it...
JA
-malaysian dca and air defence dont want to waste their fuel..
because of that small acrft..fuel is getting expensive maa..
any probably that acraft only fly along melaka straits so it not a problem..
as long their not enter the big city..
not like singa..
In the first place how can they be sure that the plane is not a thread? Furthermore the plane flew the entire Malaysian peninsula from West to East, transiting many controllers along the way, and overflying couple of military controlled airspaces, and yet no one in Malaysia can be bothered about it...
JA
-malaysian dca and air defence dont want to waste their fuel..
because of that small acrft..fuel is getting expensive maa..
any probably that acraft only fly along melaka straits so it not a problem..
as long their not enter the big city..
not like singa..
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-malaysian dca and air defence dont want to waste their fuel..
because of that small acrft..fuel is getting expensive maa..
any probably that acraft only fly along melaka straits so it not a problem..
as long their not enter the big city..
not like singa..
Never work say never work la...
No threat? Datuk Chan asked them isit?
because of that small acrft..fuel is getting expensive maa..
any probably that acraft only fly along melaka straits so it not a problem..
as long their not enter the big city..
not like singa..
Never work say never work la...
No threat? Datuk Chan asked them isit?
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Its amazing that SQ didnt grab them, Bond em, and flog the crap outta them! Lets face it, they managed to navigate to Singapore, which is more than most local pilots can do.
3 IRS, Nah, cannot lah, need GPS lah
3 IRS, Nah, cannot lah, need GPS lah
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Not suprised
Africa, Timor,fleeing the scene again. There is quite a bit of history behind this. Trans Pacific ferries using Airline discounts for positioning whilst still employed by an ex Aus major. There is form behind this one. Nothing to do with the C210 lost on a delivery Nah!!
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Police widen probe into air intrusion
Police widen probe into air intrusion
By David Boey
A POLICE investigation into the airspace intrusion that shut down Changi Airport for close to an hour on Jan 22 has turned to how the pilot of the plane got his aircraft.
The Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian seaplane, said to be worth US$1.2 million (S$1.7 million), has been impounded.
Singapore police are holding on to the passports of the pilot, Mr Rhys Thomas, said to be in his late 50s to early 60s, and his sole passenger, Mr Darren Johnson, said to be a flight engineer in his 40s and both Australians are still “assisting with investigations”.
The Straits Times understands that the police are looking into three suspicious areas.
First, the flight. The plane did not have permission to leave Thai airspace for its flight from Koh Samui airport that day.
It had been cleared only for 50 minute test flight in the vicinity of the airport.
Instead, the pilots went on a 1,000km, six hour trip - without immigration clearance or filing a flight plan, which is required under international aviation rules.
The history of the plane has also thrown up some questions.
Records showed the plane changed owners twice in a few weeks recently.
Ownership was first transferred last December to a Mrs Mali Sadd.
Barely a month later, it was sold to some Australians – supposedly on the cheap – and was registered as belonging to a Ms Mary Cummins.
Ms Cummins and Mr Thomas run a tour agency called Horizontal Falls Adventure Tours in Broome, a coastal resort town in Western Australia.
They also operate a company called Kimberley Seaplanes, which has two other Cessnas of the type that was piloted by Mr Thomas.
Before these transfers, the plane had been owned by Coco Seaplanes, which was in turn owned by Coco International Properties, a company set up to develop beachfront real estate on Koh Samui.
The company was headed by a Mr Alan Sadd – the husband of Mrs Mali Sadd.
As it turns out, Mr Sadd had been in trouble with the authorities in Bangkok for failing to pay 750 000 baht (S$34,000) to a construction firm. He was arrested on Jan 15 as he attempted to leave Koh Samui for Taiwan.
Finally, Mr Thomas background is also being looked into.
It has emerged that Singapore police have contacted an Australian aviator who once flew for him.
The aviator, who declined to be named, told the Straits Times when contacted that he was arrested in the Seychelles while piloting a plane for Mr Thomas that had false registration.
The airspace intrusion on Jan 22 sparked an air defence response, and the episode ended when two missile-armed Republic of Singapore Air Force F16D jets forced the Cessna to land at Changi Airport’s central runway.
The resulting lockdown of Singapore’s airspace triggered by the intrusion affected 17 inbound flights, which were forced into holding patterns. Six departures were delayed.
The two Aussies were questioned immediately upon landing, and it is understood that Mr Thomas initially claimed that he had problems with the landing gear of his seaplane.
He claimed that was the reason for the diversion to Singapore.
But as the investigations progressed, the new details surrounding the flight aroused the police’s suspicious.
A defence source noted that the current probe has gone on longer than the investigation into the last reported airspace intrusion in August 2003.
The source said that probe was “wrapped up within a day” after the authorities learnt that an electrical fault prevented a Portuguese pilot from talking to air traffic controllers.
[email protected]
By David Boey
A POLICE investigation into the airspace intrusion that shut down Changi Airport for close to an hour on Jan 22 has turned to how the pilot of the plane got his aircraft.
The Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian seaplane, said to be worth US$1.2 million (S$1.7 million), has been impounded.
Singapore police are holding on to the passports of the pilot, Mr Rhys Thomas, said to be in his late 50s to early 60s, and his sole passenger, Mr Darren Johnson, said to be a flight engineer in his 40s and both Australians are still “assisting with investigations”.
The Straits Times understands that the police are looking into three suspicious areas.
First, the flight. The plane did not have permission to leave Thai airspace for its flight from Koh Samui airport that day.
It had been cleared only for 50 minute test flight in the vicinity of the airport.
Instead, the pilots went on a 1,000km, six hour trip - without immigration clearance or filing a flight plan, which is required under international aviation rules.
The history of the plane has also thrown up some questions.
Records showed the plane changed owners twice in a few weeks recently.
Ownership was first transferred last December to a Mrs Mali Sadd.
Barely a month later, it was sold to some Australians – supposedly on the cheap – and was registered as belonging to a Ms Mary Cummins.
Ms Cummins and Mr Thomas run a tour agency called Horizontal Falls Adventure Tours in Broome, a coastal resort town in Western Australia.
They also operate a company called Kimberley Seaplanes, which has two other Cessnas of the type that was piloted by Mr Thomas.
Before these transfers, the plane had been owned by Coco Seaplanes, which was in turn owned by Coco International Properties, a company set up to develop beachfront real estate on Koh Samui.
The company was headed by a Mr Alan Sadd – the husband of Mrs Mali Sadd.
As it turns out, Mr Sadd had been in trouble with the authorities in Bangkok for failing to pay 750 000 baht (S$34,000) to a construction firm. He was arrested on Jan 15 as he attempted to leave Koh Samui for Taiwan.
Finally, Mr Thomas background is also being looked into.
It has emerged that Singapore police have contacted an Australian aviator who once flew for him.
The aviator, who declined to be named, told the Straits Times when contacted that he was arrested in the Seychelles while piloting a plane for Mr Thomas that had false registration.
The airspace intrusion on Jan 22 sparked an air defence response, and the episode ended when two missile-armed Republic of Singapore Air Force F16D jets forced the Cessna to land at Changi Airport’s central runway.
The resulting lockdown of Singapore’s airspace triggered by the intrusion affected 17 inbound flights, which were forced into holding patterns. Six departures were delayed.
The two Aussies were questioned immediately upon landing, and it is understood that Mr Thomas initially claimed that he had problems with the landing gear of his seaplane.
He claimed that was the reason for the diversion to Singapore.
But as the investigations progressed, the new details surrounding the flight aroused the police’s suspicious.
A defence source noted that the current probe has gone on longer than the investigation into the last reported airspace intrusion in August 2003.
The source said that probe was “wrapped up within a day” after the authorities learnt that an electrical fault prevented a Portuguese pilot from talking to air traffic controllers.
[email protected]
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Latest: Charged with Flying Without A Certificate of Airworthiness
Here's the update.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_211362.html
Feb 28, 2008
Aussie pilot charged with unauthorised flight into S'pore
AN AUSTRALIAN who flew into Singapore last month on a Cessna 208 without an approved flight plan was charged in a district court on Thursday (feb28) with flying without a certificate of airworthiness.
Rhys Henry Thomas, 59, is alleged to have piloted the 1998 Australian-registered Caravan amphibious seaplane without the valid certificate issued by the Australian authority at about 7.20pm on Jan 22.
He is believed to have flown in from Koh Samui, Thailand, with a passenger.
Clad in a short-sleeve blue shirt and tie and khaki trousers, Thomas was calm when the charge under the Air Navigation Order was read to him.
If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $5,000 or a year's jail, or both.
His lawyer, Mr Salem Ibrahim, applied for the case to be adjourned to make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The prosecution sought bail of $15,000 but counsel asked for the bail to be reduced to a third.
Mr Ibrahim said his client had been here for the past five weeks and had his passport with him. He assured the court that there was no flight risk.
But Inspector Leow Teck Wee disagreed. As a foreigner, he said Thomas had no links or ties in Singapore and his attendance must be compelled with an appropriate amount of bail.
District Judge John Ng set bail at $10,000 and impounded his passport.
The case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on March 13.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_211362.html
Feb 28, 2008
Aussie pilot charged with unauthorised flight into S'pore
AN AUSTRALIAN who flew into Singapore last month on a Cessna 208 without an approved flight plan was charged in a district court on Thursday (feb28) with flying without a certificate of airworthiness.
Rhys Henry Thomas, 59, is alleged to have piloted the 1998 Australian-registered Caravan amphibious seaplane without the valid certificate issued by the Australian authority at about 7.20pm on Jan 22.
He is believed to have flown in from Koh Samui, Thailand, with a passenger.
Clad in a short-sleeve blue shirt and tie and khaki trousers, Thomas was calm when the charge under the Air Navigation Order was read to him.
If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $5,000 or a year's jail, or both.
His lawyer, Mr Salem Ibrahim, applied for the case to be adjourned to make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The prosecution sought bail of $15,000 but counsel asked for the bail to be reduced to a third.
Mr Ibrahim said his client had been here for the past five weeks and had his passport with him. He assured the court that there was no flight risk.
But Inspector Leow Teck Wee disagreed. As a foreigner, he said Thomas had no links or ties in Singapore and his attendance must be compelled with an appropriate amount of bail.
District Judge John Ng set bail at $10,000 and impounded his passport.
The case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on March 13.
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Now he claims mother is ill and wants to visit her!
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_212007.html
March 1, 2008
Pilot on bail can't leave yet
AN AUSTRALIAN pilot charged with flying a float plane into Singapore airspace without a valid certificate has been denied permission be at the bedside of his ailing mother.
Rhys Henry Thomas was hoping yesterday to travel to a hospital in New South Wales where his mother was warded following a heart attack. But the 59-year-old's application to leave Singapore was dismissed by district judge John Ng.
Thomas was charged on Thursday with flying an Australian-registered float plane to Singapore on Jan 22 without a valid airworthiness certificate. Two Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets escorted his Cessna 208 Caravan to Changi Airport, which was closed for 50 minutes amid security fears.
Yesterday, his lawyer, Mr Salem Ibrahim, renewed his application for Thomas to leave the country, handing the court a letter from a doctor treating his client's 83-year-old mother, who has been warded since Feb 20.
Thomas had his passport with him for five weeks, but it was impounded on Thursday when he was released on $10,000 bail.
Deputy public prosecutor Lee Cheow Han objected to the application, and said Thomas' reason for leaving was not compelling enough. He said Thomas, who has no roots here, could contact his family members and mother by phone, video calls, fax or e-mail.
A pre-trial conference originally scheduled for March 13 has been moved up to next Friday.
March 1, 2008
Pilot on bail can't leave yet
AN AUSTRALIAN pilot charged with flying a float plane into Singapore airspace without a valid certificate has been denied permission be at the bedside of his ailing mother.
Rhys Henry Thomas was hoping yesterday to travel to a hospital in New South Wales where his mother was warded following a heart attack. But the 59-year-old's application to leave Singapore was dismissed by district judge John Ng.
Thomas was charged on Thursday with flying an Australian-registered float plane to Singapore on Jan 22 without a valid airworthiness certificate. Two Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets escorted his Cessna 208 Caravan to Changi Airport, which was closed for 50 minutes amid security fears.
Yesterday, his lawyer, Mr Salem Ibrahim, renewed his application for Thomas to leave the country, handing the court a letter from a doctor treating his client's 83-year-old mother, who has been warded since Feb 20.
Thomas had his passport with him for five weeks, but it was impounded on Thursday when he was released on $10,000 bail.
Deputy public prosecutor Lee Cheow Han objected to the application, and said Thomas' reason for leaving was not compelling enough. He said Thomas, who has no roots here, could contact his family members and mother by phone, video calls, fax or e-mail.
A pre-trial conference originally scheduled for March 13 has been moved up to next Friday.
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Who will pay the cost of all this by the way?What is the common law?
I believe the Australian government should bear the cost,they are the ones issuing licenses to people who fly without flight plan.
I believe the Australian government should bear the cost,they are the ones issuing licenses to people who fly without flight plan.
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The 2 pilots face a prison term, fully deserved in my opinion.
The Australian Authorities need to raise their standards with regard to licensing issues. They lag behind the rest of the world in this area. They can keep all their cowboys flying around the Outback, but don`t let them loose on the rest of us.
The Australian Authorities need to raise their standards with regard to licensing issues. They lag behind the rest of the world in this area. They can keep all their cowboys flying around the Outback, but don`t let them loose on the rest of us.
Last edited by Wornout Rubber; 2nd Mar 2008 at 06:05.
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You have such miscreants anywhere in the world. Dodgy operations and trying to sneak in through loopholes..........they manage to leave the Thai borders and breached Malaysian airspace ( not too good on the Malaysian air defence! ) and had then cossed the narrow ( relatively ) strip of SIN airspace, they would have been free and clear in Indon airspace.
Chrislikesblue
So are you suggesting that the licensing authorties also pick up the tab for defence of drunk drivers, red light runners etc, on the basis that they licensed the miscreants?
Maui
So are you suggesting that the licensing authorties also pick up the tab for defence of drunk drivers, red light runners etc, on the basis that they licensed the miscreants?
Maui
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Driving is a different story,every authority in the world takes that risk by issuing licenses.But compared to the risk of issuing a pilot license is minimal,here we are talking about hundred thousands dollars cost of fuel,flight disruptions...etc.
My opinion is that a country that issues pilot licenses so easy to everyone as other countries would give a motorbike 50cc license they should at least pay a penalty to a country that they could cause an incovenience like this.(and raise their training standards or become more cautious who they give licenses to)
My opinion is that a country that issues pilot licenses so easy to everyone as other countries would give a motorbike 50cc license they should at least pay a penalty to a country that they could cause an incovenience like this.(and raise their training standards or become more cautious who they give licenses to)
Chrislikesblue.
If I am to understand you correctly:
1. the reponsibility of the licencing authority is somehow different when applying to the air as opposed to the road.
2. The "hundreds of thousand(s) of dollars, cost of fuel flight disruptions etc" is somehow more important than the cost of the life taken by the drunk redlight runner.
3. The Australian aviation licencing authority (CASA) is handing out substandard licences as easily as the relevant authorities give out 50cc motrcycle licences.
Interesting perspective.
Maui
If I am to understand you correctly:
1. the reponsibility of the licencing authority is somehow different when applying to the air as opposed to the road.
2. The "hundreds of thousand(s) of dollars, cost of fuel flight disruptions etc" is somehow more important than the cost of the life taken by the drunk redlight runner.
3. The Australian aviation licencing authority (CASA) is handing out substandard licences as easily as the relevant authorities give out 50cc motrcycle licences.
Interesting perspective.
Maui