South Korea’s Black Eagles no longer participating in Singapore Airshow’s aerial display

SINGAPORE – A South Korean aerobatic team will no longer be performing during the Singapore Airshow, said the event organiser on Wednesday (Feb 7), a day after one of its aircraft skidded and crashed into the grass verge at the side of Changi's Runway 1.

Responding to TODAY's queries, Experia Events said the Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles team "will not be participating in the remaining aerobatic flying display programme".

When asked if the remaining teams performing during the aerial display segment would be subject to more stringent checks, it said: "It is a standard practice that all flying display participants must abide by all the required guidelines and regulations."

On Tuesday, the single-seater T-50 Golden Eagle plane caught fire after the incident at around 1.24pm, but the pilot managed to escape with light injuries.

The T-50 aircraft is a supersonic advanced trainer and light combat aircraft developed indigenously in South Korea by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin.

The pilot was taken to the airport clinic for a check-up and subsequently discharged, said Changi Airport on Tuesday night.

TODAY also reached out to the Ministry of Transport to check if the nature of the incident has been determined.

"Investigations are still ongoing and we should let the due process be completed," said the ministry on Wednesday night.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Tuesday's incident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a flying display as part of the programme at the Airshow.

Runway 1 was closed following the accident to "facilitate investigations by the authorities before the aircraft could be removed", said the CAAS.

About 170 flights were delayed by an hour or more as a result of the incident.