Story of SIA Flight SQ117 hijack resurfaces, LinkedIn post spotlights commando-turned-monk
A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commando who helped end a plane hijacking in just 30 seconds later took a radically different path in life by becoming a Buddhist monk.
A LinkedIn post shared on Monday (16 March) has reignited interest in one of Singapore’s most dramatic aviation incidents: the 1991 hijacking of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ117.
It recounts the tense ordeal and the swift operation that brought it to an end in under a minute.
From elite commando to life-or-death mission
On 26 March 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ117 was hijacked en route from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Source: The Singapore Army on Facebook
Four armed men seized the aircraft, which was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, triggering a tense overnight standoff after it landed at Changi Airport.
As negotiations dragged on, the hijackers reportedly threatened to begin killing hostages. Meanwhile, SAF’s Special Operations Force commandos were deployed to storm the plane.
According to the LinkedIn post, Fred Cheong, said to be among the few Singaporeans to have completed United States (US) Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) training, was part of the team tasked with carrying out the assault.
30-second rescue that saved every life on board
In the early hours of 27 March, commandos moved in.
They breached the aircraft, deployed stun grenades, and eliminated all four hijackers in what has been widely described as a precise and highly coordinated operation.
