1983/01 - Cable car incident

The RSAF responded swiftly to an urgent crisis when the tall mast of the Eniwetok, an oil rig, snapped the cable between Singapore and Sentosa. Two Bell 212 helicopters from the RSAF’s 120 Squadron helped save the 13 people who were trapped in the cable cars.

The air crew of 120 Squadron rescued passengers who were stranded in cable cars off Sentosa island on 19 January 1983.

“It was very difficult to maintain a fixed position above the cars... It was a real test of coordination and teamwork. We pilots didn’t really do much. The winchmen deserve the greatest credit. Theirs were the most difficult and dangerous tasks.””

LTA Kao Yit Chee, Pilot, 120 Squadron, 1983 who helmed the Bell 212 deployed for the rescue mission

“The first cable car’s door was jammed and I had a lot of difficulty opening it. To make things worse, I was swinging around a lot due to the strong winds and the helicopter’s downwash… It was an experience I will never forget.””

2WO Ramasamy Veerappa, Winchman, 120 Squadron, 1983 who was on board the Bell 212 for the mission