Starting a new thread as this doesn't quite come under Ex Pitch Black.

Have gone through the files. News reports before 1989 are on microfilm so I can't post the articles for you all to read. Here's a summary of the incident which involved an F-5E.

At around 18:30 hrs on Friday, 8 May 1987 (correct), a motorcyclist Mr Sevalinggam s/o Kumarasamy, 42, was riding along Eunos Link near PLA when his machine was lashed by steel wires from a low flying F-5E on short finals for WSAP Runway 02. He was riding behind a taxi and was travelling towards Hougang when steel wires whipped across his path and snagged his bike. He lost control and grazed the taxi before his machine fell and caught fire. The rider suffered extensive burns and his left leg was also cut by the wire. Part of the left rear of the taxi was ripped open and some tree branches were also felled. Mr Sevalinggam died from his burn injuries at Singapore General Hospital at about 8pm. The cable was supposed to have been jettisoned at sea together with a target banner but did not detach itself from the F-5E.

Another incident in July 1990 also involved a target banner, this time towed by an A-4.

Pub Date: Jul 31, 1990 Pub: ST Page: 3
Author: RAV
Headline: Cable holding RSAF target banner snaps
Page Heading: News Focus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A CABLE connecting a cloth target banner to a Republic of Singapore Air Force
Skyhawk snapped and fell into the Western Johor Straits north of Pulau
Sarimbun yesterday morning.
The cable snapped at 9.14am while the banner was being towed out from the
Tengah Air Base to the South China Sea, the Ministry of Defence said
yesterday.
Target banners are used by the RSAF for its aircraft to shoot at in
air-to-air gunnery firing practices over the South China Sea.
The target banner, 9m by 2m and held by a 240-m-long nylon cable, dropped
into the sea near Tanjong Tajam in southern Johor.
Part of the cable fell onto the shoreline at Tanjong Tajam. No injury to
persons or damage to property has been reported, Mindef said, adding that the
Malaysian authorities have been informed of the incident.
Mindef, which is investigating the incident, said the Singapore Marine Police
are working with the Malaysian authorities to retrieve the target banner and
nylon cable.

- ENDS -

So be careful when loitering around aircraft flight paths.

TFOA is the result of loose thinking.

1997 ? typo perhaps ? :unsure:

Yup, typed wrongly. It's 1987. Cheers

Thanks CJ! I remember the A-4 incident but not the F-5 one until I was first told about it a few years ago.

I believe the RSAF stopped it towed target program after the incidents?

I remember the F-5 one... was mentioned during training before... and because of that the towed target program was stopped...