In a memorandum quoted Friday by the Straits Times newspaper, an SIA official said Taiwanese and Singaporean inquiries into the October 31, 2000 crash did not fully clear Captain Foong Chee Kong and First Officer Latiff Cyrano.

"The two investigation reports did not exonerate the two pilots concerned completely, notwithstanding the fact that there were serious deficiencies at Chiang Kai-shek Airport that fateful day," said the circular signed by SIA senior vice president Raymund Ng.

SIA spokesmen declined to release the circular obtained by the Straits Times.

"Eighty-three people died and many others went through untold suffering. We as an airline cannot ignore these facts. Unpleasant as it was, for the general good of the company, we had to let the two pilots go," it reportedly said.

"We as an airline cannot ignore these facts. Unpleasant as it was, for the general good of the company, we had to let the two pilots go."

The pilots of Los Angeles-bound flight SQ 006 had mistakenly turned into a runway that was closed for repairs on a stormy night, and their Boeing 747-400 exploded when it ploughed into construction equipment. The crash was the first in the airline's history.

Ninety-six people aboard the plane survived, including the three pilots. Taiwan authorities blamed pilot error for the tragedy, filing manslaughter charges against the sacked pair conditionally suspended for three years.

The third man in the cockpit, First Officer Ng Kheng Leng, was not held liable by Taiwan officials and retained his job with the airline as he was not engaged in the actual operation of the doomed flight.

The sacking had been condemned by the local Air Line Pilots Association, which said there was no evidence to show that the pilots were reckless or had disregarded any rules, and called the decision "harsh and inappropriate".

The pilots were scheduled to hold a meeting on various issues here late Friday and were expected to vote on a resolution condemning SIA's termination of the two pilots.

Foong and Latiff were told of their dismissal days after the airline received confirmation from the Taiwan High Prosecutor's Office endorsing a lower court decision to suspend the manslaughter charges.

Singapore authorities have contested the Taiwanese findings blaming pilot error, saying a lack of lights and physical barriers led the pilots onto the closed runway.

The carrier is facing compensation claims in the United States filed by survivors and the families of victims.

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