The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) scrambled F-15SG jets on Tuesday night (Oct 15) after a bomb threat on an Air India Express flight.
Air India Express had received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 that was bound for Singapore, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post. According to Dr Ng, “Two F-15SG jets escorted the plane away from populated areas and it touched down at Changi Airport at around 10.04pm, more than an hour after it was due to land.”
“Our Ground Based Air Defence systems and Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were also activated. Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the Airport Police,” Dr Ng said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Dr Ng also expressed his gratitude to the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team, stating, “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) confirmed that the police completed security checks and no threat items were found on the plane. In response to the incident, the SPF stated, “The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm.”
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, Flight AXB684 took off from Madurai at about 1.54pm and was due to land in Singapore at about 8.50pm. However, it was delayed due to the bomb threat.
Several other flights taking off from India were also disrupted on the same day due to bomb threats. An Air India Express flight from Ayodhya to Bengaluru, as well as flights from other airlines, received similar hoax bomb threats.
In light of these incidents, Air India expressed concern, stating, “Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days.”
Overall, the timely response and security measures taken by the Singapore Armed Forces and authorities in response to the bomb threat on the Air India Express flight demonstrated their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the Singapore airspace and its residents.
