*Original Video Documentary Removed by YouTube.
On 26 March 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers from Pakistan. The aircraft landed at Singapore. After their demands were not met, the hijackers threatened to begin killing hostages; before their deadline expired, commandos stormed the plane, killing the hijackers and freeing all hostages unhurt.
The leader demanded to speak to the Pakistani ambassador to Singapore as well as former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He also demanded the release of a number of people jailed in Pakistan.
Photo of Singapore Airlines The Straits Times photographer Francis Ong
The commandos forced the plane doors open with detonating charges and tossed stun grenades into the plane. After shouting for the passengers to get down and identifying themselves as the rescue team, the commandos shot dead all four hijackers, leaving the hostages unharmed. The entire operation lasted 30 seconds.
In 1997, the Singaporean Armed Forces revealed that the commandos involved in the SQ 117 rescue operation were members of the Special Operations Force, a secret hostage-rescue and counter-terrorism unit.
Source: Singapore Airlines Hijacking
The Special Operations Force (SOF) is the Republic’s Army Special Forces composed of highly trained elite soldiers within the Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation CDO FN and an essential component of the joint Special Forces unit Special Operations Task Force.
SAF’s Special Operation Force assault hijacked ferry during training. Source: The New Paper
The Special Operations Force (SOF) is a unit within the CDO FN made up of only regular servicemen, who are specially trained to operate in long-range deployments and special missions. Selected members are sent to the United States to attend courses conducted by the Special Forces or Navy SEALs.
Source: Wikipedia
