http://www.latimes.com/news/local/los_angeles_metro/la-me-singapore4may04,1,682237.story?coll=la-commun-los_angeles_metro As it neared the end of its 18-hour flight, the plane had been transmitting the signal for a hijacking. The alarm code has to be manually entered by the pilot. Air traffic controllers in Los Angeles had seen the alert and contacted the pilot, who assured them that the transponder was malfunctioning, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker.
But officials on the ground took no chances.
An F-16 military jet was dispatched to accompany the plane, a long-range Airbus A340-500, into the area. SWAT and hostage negotiation teams from the FBI and LAPD rushed to the scene.
The plane landed in a remote section of the airport at 5:25 p.m., a few minutes before its scheduled arrival and about half an hour after local and federal law enforcement agencies had been alerted about the possible threat.
>>>>BK any more news on the plane intercepts or the fires?
Aha so what you heard was correct. I'm glad they took no chances and scambled the jets anyway. Was that one of those Singapore Airlines planes than can go the 18 hours straight without stopping for fuel?
I can assure you to turn 4 transponder knobs to read 7600 is no malfunction.