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SINGAPORE - Singapore closed its commercial airspace for almost an hour on Tuesday as fighter jets scrambled to intercept a small plane headed towards the city-state without permission, the Civil Aviation Authority said on Wednesday.
The Defence Ministry said two Republic of Singapore Air Force planes took off around 6.45pm local time to intercept a single-engine turboprop Cessna 208 and escort it to land at the Changi Airport.
Police have started an investigation, local media reported.
The closure of commercial airspace for about 50 minutes affected 23 aircraft, disrupting flights in and out of Changi Airport, a Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman told Reuters.
She said 16 incoming flights and six departing aircraft were delayed for between 15 and 40 minutes each. Another inbound aircraft was diverted to Senai Airport in neighbouring Malaysia, she said.
- REUTERS
