1986/03 - Hotel New World collapse

Helicopters

Bell 212

UH-1H Iroquois

Year

1986

The RSAF responded to Hotel New World collapse, airlifting casualties with UH-1H helicopters.

In the aftermath of the Hotel New World collapse, 120 Squadron responded with one Bell 212 and two UH-1H helicopters to render round-the-clock casualty evacuation for six days. The UH-1Hs were on standby at Farrer Park to airlift casualties to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and helped save the lives of 17 victims rescued from the rubble.

Monochrome image of a Huey helicopter as men load a stretcher into it on a grassy field.

Farrer Park was the designated evacuation point and operations ran like clockwork.

Black and white photo shows people carrying a stretcher across a grassy field.

Survivors who needed urgent treatment were sent to the evacuation point by ambulance.

Soldiers carrying a stretcher across a grassy field.

Survivors were then airlifted to SGH via the UH-1H helicopter within four minutes.

Black and white photo of a helicopter on a grassy field.

SAF, govt agencies, volunteer groups & public joined forces in Search & Rescue mission.

“It was a very short and sharp affair. The casualties arrived and were brought in almost immediately after start-up. We took off with six on board and, in less than five minutes, were touching down at the SGH helipad.”

CPT Simon Tan, Pilot, 1986 who was one of the UH-1H pilots who airlifted casualties to SGH