SINGAPORE – A Singapore-bound Tiger Airways flight was diverted to Batam yesterday (Sept 20) after thundery storms prevented it from landing safely in Changi Airport.

Flight TR2067 was flying from Hong Kong International Airport and due to land in Singapore at 10:30pm yesterday, but the local airport’s website showed it only arrived at 2:41am today.

A check on air traffic tracker website Flight Radar 24 listed the plane as having landed in Batam at 11:36pm last night.

When TODAY contacted Tiger Airways regarding the incident, a spokesperson from the low-cost carrier cited “inclement weather and the presence of windshear” for the diversion of TR2067. Windshear refers to the rapid change of wind speed and direction over short distances that poses a hazardous threat to pilots while landing.

“After making two landing attempts, the flight was diverted to Batam to refuel and await better landing conditions as part of Tigerair’s standard operating procedures,” added the spokesperson, confirming the data from Flight Radar 24 on the A320’s detour.

Ms Serena Ng, whose mother was on the plane, told Channel NewsAsia that she managed to contact her on the phone, and learnt that the plane had landed in “an airfield in Batam.”

“My mum told me TR2067 attempted to land in Singapore twice, but failed, and she heard loud vibrating sounds from the engine and thunder,” Ms Ng said.

Regarding the loud noises cited by Ms Ng’s mother, Tiger Airways said that it happened during the plane’s U-turn procedure.

“The loud engine noise heard by passengers was due to the plane making a go-around which involved the powering up of the aircraft engine, which was operating optimally,” said the spokesperson. “At no point was the safety of our crew and passengers compromised, and the flight landed safely in Singapore at 2.41 am today,” she said. (Additional reporting by Channel NewsAsia)