The Singapore Air Force (RSAF) scrambled F-15SG jets on Tuesday night after receiving a bomb threat on an Air India Express flight.
Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the airlines had received an email claiming there was a bomb on board flight AXB684, which was heading to Singapore.
Two RSAF F-15SGs were scrambled and escorted the plane away from populated areas. The plane landed safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04 pm on Tuesday.
Ng Eng Hen stated on social media, "Air India Express received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 that was bound for Singapore. Two of our RSAF F-15SGs scrambled and escorted the plane away from populated areas, to finally land safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04 pm tonight."
He added, "Our Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were also activated. Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the Airport Police. Investigations are ongoing."
Ng Eng Hen expressed gratitude to the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team for their dedication, saying, "Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us."
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) was alerted about the bomb threat at about 8:25 pm (local time). "The plane landed safely at Changi Airport at about 10:04 pm, under the escort of RSAF fighter aircraft," it said.
The SPF conducted complete security checks and found no threat items.
The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm.
Flight AXB684 took off from Madurai at about 1:54 pm and was due to arrive in Singapore at about 8:50 pm.
12 Comments
Katchuka
😠 This is just plain wrong. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior.
Eugene Alta
🤬 This is terrorism! Threatening innocent people on a plane is a despicable act. I hope the perpetrator is caught and punished severely.
Katchuka
😠 This is why we need to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
KittyKat
🤬 I hope the person responsible for this is never allowed to fly again.
Pinochet
🤬 This is a waste of resources. The air force and police had to scramble because of some idiot's joke.
Muchacha
😠 Unbelievable! Someone would do this and cause such panic for everyone on board. People need to be held accountable for these actions.
Bella Ciao
🙏 Thank you to the Singapore Air Force and Home Team for their quick response and dedication to keeping us safe.
Comandante
👏 This is a reminder of the importance of our armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
ZmeeLove
👏 This is a good example of how international cooperation can help keep us safe.
Muchacho
🙏 I hope this incident leads to a renewed focus on security at airports around the world.
Coccinella
😡 This is just a publicity stunt. Someone is trying to get attention and disrupt people's lives. It's absolutely irresponsible.
Muchacho
🙏 Thankfully, the threat was a hoax. But it's still a reminder that we need to be vigilant.