Two Australians who forced the closure of Singapore’s airspace for 50 minutes have not sought consular assistance, despite reports they are still being questioned by police.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman last night confirmed that the Government was aware of the incident but referred questions about the men’s status to police in Singapore.
“The two men have not approached the Australian High Commission in Singapore for consular assistance,” the spokesman said.
The men caused two Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter jets to scramble on Tuesday night after they flew their light aircraft into Singaporean airspace without an approved flight plan.
The Cessna 208 Caravan float plane approached during Changi Airport’s busiest period and was tracked by the armed fighters until the pair landed on the airport’s central runway at about 8pm.
The men were not identified but the Straits Times newspaper said the plane was bought this month by Mary Cummins, who co-owns a tourist adventure flight company with Rhys Thomas, who was a pilot with defunct Australian airline Ansett.
The plane had previously been flown by an airline in Koh Samui.
The shutdown of commercial airspace affected 23 aircraft, disrupting flights in and out of Changi and cost airlines thousands of dollars while their planes circled awaiting permission to land.
Singapore media reports said the island’s military had been on alert for unauthorised intruders since the September 2001 terror attacks in the US.
Source: The Australian
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January 30, 2008 at 3:10 am