On Tuesday, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) scrambled two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane following a bomb threat, ensuring the aircraft landed safely at Singapore’s Changi Airport. The flight, IX 684, was travelling from Madurai to Singapore when it received an alarming email stating that a bomb was on board.
Singapore’s Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, shared the news on X, stating, “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 also confirmed that Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were activated. Upon landing, the aircraft was handed over to the airport police for further investigation.
(1/3) 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 10:04pm tonight. pic.twitter.com/tOzo6wgT5E
— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) October 15, 2024
Ng expressed gratitude for the dedication and professionalism of the SAF and Home Team, remarking, “Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our SAF and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us.”
Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our SAF and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us..
— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) October 15, 2024
The number of passengers on the flight has not been disclosed, and there was no immediate comment from Air India Express regarding the incident.
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7 Flights Received Hoax Bomb Threats Today: Report
This incident comes as seven flights, including one bound for the United States, received bomb-threat messages through a social media handle on the same day, prompting security agencies to conduct counter-terrorism drills at various airports. News agency PTI cited official sources as indicating that the threats on the microblogging platform X followed a similar incident the previous day, where three international flights from Mumbai were threatened but later deemed hoaxes.
The specific flights that received threats included an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru, a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai, an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago, an IndiGo flight from Dammam to Lucknow, an Alliance Air flight from Amritsar to Dehradun to Delhi, and the Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore, PTI sources reported. The X handle responsible for the threats has since been suspended after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) contacted cyber-security agencies.
“All the messages on Monday were declared a hoax after security and intelligence agencies as well as airline and airport operators carried out stipulated anti-terrorist security drills that are activated in case of bomb or hijack threats,” PTI quoted sources as stating.
In a statement to PTI, an Air India Express spokesperson confirmed that they received a specific security threat from an unverified social media handle, prompting immediate activation of security protocols as per the directives of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The spokesperson added, “The flight landed safely, and the aircraft will be released for operations following all mandated security procedures.”
SpiceJet’s aircraft also landed safely at Mumbai Airport and was directed to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure. Passengers disembarked normally, and security agencies were promptly notified. After thorough checks, the aircraft was cleared for further operations. Similarly, Akasa Air reported that their flight received a security alert, and after following emergency procedures, it landed safely at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
The Air India flight bound for Chicago was diverted to Iqaluit airport in Canada due to a security threat. Passengers and the aircraft are undergoing re-screening in accordance with security protocols. An Air India spokesperson stated that they activated support agencies at the airport to assist passengers until they can continue their journey.
IndiGo acknowledged the situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow, stating, “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines.” The flight was diverted to Jaipur airport, where it was placed in an isolation bay for security checks.
According to PTI, officials indicated that the BCAS has enlisted the help of Indian cyber-security agencies and police to trace the individuals behind these threats.