Transponder "Malfunction" Causes F-16 Scramble

There's probably nothing more embarrassing than an equipment malfunction that draws attention to your aircraft. Well, on second thought, there probably are more embarrassing things, but you can be the captain of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A340-500 is wishing all of them upon himself right about now.

The aircraft, headed from Singapore to Los Angeles, apparently suffered a transponder malfunction which reset the transponder to indicate a hijacking aboard (7500). That's the captain's story, according to the FAA.

The flight, carrying 126 passengers and a crew of 18, was escorted to LAX by an Air Force F-16, where it was directed to a remote section of the airport. After its 5:30 pm PDT arrival, the aircraft was promptly surrounded by SWAT officers and then stormed, even as hostage negotiators rushed to the scene.

Minutes later, the captain had convinced police and most other law officers in southern California that it was a malfunction -- that no hijacker was on board.

Now he has to convince his fellow pilots, crew and passengers that it really was a transponder goof.

FMI: www.singaporeair.com