Helicopter Pilot Takes Taxi Driver to Court Over $4 Million in Lost Earnings
In a twist of fate that sounds like a thriller, Captain Teng Ling Ying, a former Singapore Air Force helicopter pilot, has filed a lawsuit against a taxi driver in a bid to recover at least four million dollars for injuries sustained in a 2014 car crash that abruptly ended her flying career.
The Crash That Made History
- On July 8, 2014 at about 6:40 am, Captain Teng was driving a van through a busy junction near Upper Changi Road East.
- While a Comfort taxi failed to heed a red traffic light, it collided with her vehicle.
- She emerged from the wreck with a battered wrist, neck, shoulder, and head—big enough to keep her from handling the fine controls of an AH‑64D Apache helicopter.
From Sky-High to Grounded for Good
A medical specialist concluded that the permanent wrist instability denied Captain Teng even the slightest chance of maintaining the dexterity required for flight. The result? She was no longer fit to pilot her beloved Apache.
Since January 2017, she has been reassigned as an air warfare officer, a role that’s still demanding but far from the cockpit. She’s also appeared in a 2013 Ministry of Defence promo video, calmly introducing herself as an Apache pilot in 120 Squadron.
What’s the Legal Battlefield?
- Captain Teng believes the taxi driver, Ng Chiang Eng, was negligent for ignoring the red light and keeping the vehicle out of control.
- She filed the lawsuit in June of last year.
- The complaint seeks special damages amounting to $4,072,134— including:
- $2,179,367 for lost future earnings until retirement from RSAF at age 50.
- $1,827,000 for earnings afterward.
- Medical, physiotherapy, transport costs, and pre‑trial income loss.
- General damages were not disclosed in the court filings.
- In August 2017, the High Court ordered Mr. Ng to accept full liability, with the exact damages still to be finalized.
Defender’s Defense
Mr. Ng does not contest his responsibility, yet he argues that any harm Captain Teng suffered was due to her own failure to seek suitable employment or medical care after the accident.
What Comes Next?
The trial is slated for October to November 2018. The courtroom will ultimately decide how wide the net of liability is—will it spare the pilot’s future earnings, or will it cover everything else?
Even though the case is a legal affair, it’s a reminder that a single moment on the road can ripple through a person’s career, dreams, and financial future.
