Man to be charged over bomb hoax made aboard flight at Changi Airport
A 22-year-old man will be charged on 5 June in Singapore for allegedly making a bomb threat while onboard a flight preparing to depart from Changi Airport.
The man had allegedly posted the threat on social media shortly before takeoff.
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), officers were alerted on 14 February at approximately 7.20pm to a social media post that contained a threat to blow up an aircraft.
The post, reportedly made after the man had boarded the aircraft, read: 'no one here knows I'm going to blow the plane up.'
Investigations by the Airport Police Division led to the identification of the suspect within an hour of the report.
The aircraft, which was taxiing on the runway for departure to Abu Dhabi, was recalled to Changi Airport Terminal 2.
The man was arrested onboard the flight.
Police confirmed that no threat items were found in his possession and there was no actual means to carry out the threat.
The man will be charged under Section 268A of the Penal Code for communicating false information about a harmful thing.
If found guilty, he could face up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.
When contacted by state media CNA, the police declined to disclose the man's nationality.
Police stress zero tolerance for false threats
The SPF emphasised the seriousness with which all security threats are treated.
Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi, Commander of the Airport Police Division, said the safety and security of passengers and staff remain the top priority.
'Beyond fear and inconvenience caused, the making of false threats, especially relating to airport and airline operations, involves significant public resources that have to be deployed to deal with the incident,' she stated.
'All security threats will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will be tracked down and prosecuted.'
Previous bomb threat in October 2024
In a similar incident in October 2024, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) deployed two F-15SG fighter jets in response to a bomb threat on an incoming Air India Express flight.
The flight, which was bound for Singapore, was safely escorted to Changi Airport where no threats were found upon inspection.
That incident was one of several bomb threats made against flights departing from India on 14 and 15 October 2024.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
14 hours ago
- CNA
Motivated by lust: Jail for ex-cop who illegally accessed SPF database, asked woman for sex
SINGAPORE: Curious about a case where young women had been arrested over potential drug offences, a police officer went to search their social media profiles and found one of them to be attractive. Sean Teo then devised a plan to get in touch with her and convince her to have sex with him, and "be his woman". Teo, 29, pretended that he could help with her case even though he was completely uninvolved. Teo pleaded guilty to one count each under the Computer Misuse Act, Official Secrets Act and Prevention of Corruption Act for accessing a system without authority, showing the woman a picture of the crime scene without authority and for soliciting gratification from her. He was sentenced to 13 months' jail on Friday (Jun 20). The woman in question had been part of a group that was arrested in a suite at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) hotel for suspected drug consumption on Nov 2, 2019. She cannot be named due to a gag order. On the same day, Teo, then a sergeant with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), was on patrol duty when he heard a radio transmission about the operation at MBS. Later that day, a police officer who had been dispatched to the incident circulated a photo to a WhatsApp chat group which Teo was a part of. The chat group was for police officers from the Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre. The photo, which was of the crime scene, depicted a white powdery substance on a porcelain plate, an MBS access card, and a rolled up two-dollar note. Teo saved the photo on his mobile phone. At the same time, he heard a radio transmission that several young women had been arrested. Curious to know more, Teo accessed SPF's command and control system, known as CUBICON II, to look at the incident report. Teo then recorded the names and contact numbers of the women who had been arrested and saved them on his mobile phone. Teo was not involved in the incident and had no authority to do what he did. Later, Teo searched for the social media profiles of the women who had been arrested as he wanted to see how they looked like. He found one of them attractive and wanted to get to know her. His initial effort to contact her on a chat application was in vain. Undeterred, Teo conducted a search on Telegram chat application and managed to find the woman's account. He added her contact, using a Telegram account with a fake name in a bid to conceal his identity. On Dec 7, 2019, Teo contacted the woman, an insurance agent, on Telegram and managed convince her to meet him under the pretence that he was interested in buying insurance from her. He met her for dinner the next day and introduced himself as "James". During the dinner, he revealed that he knew she had been arrested over the incident at MBS. Subsequently, the two continued to discuss her arrest and its likely outcomes. Teo told the woman he could help her by using his connections with senior officers at the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). When the woman expressed doubt about his ability to help, Teo showed her the crime scene photograph, which was enough to convince her. "(Teo) told (the woman) that he had friends in CNB, and that he was aware of cases where subjects with connections in CNB could have their urine test results fabricated," court documents stated. "To do this, male subjects had to pay money, while female subjects could either pay money or sleep with the IO (investigation officer). None of this was true. The accused was not personally aware of any instance where CNB investigations had been resolved in this way." ASKED FOR SEX Teo then said he could help the woman if she was willing to sleep with him. She replied that she would think about it. After this meeting, the pair continued to exchange messages, during which Teo would remind the woman that he could help her, and kept trying to solicit a sexual and romantic relationship with her. "The accused repeatedly asked (the woman) to 'be his woman' and told (her) that she could sleep with him instead of sleeping with the CNB IO. "On one occasion, the accused tried to convince (the woman) to meet him on the false pretext that he had confidential information from the CNB IO that was not safe to tell her over Telegram messages, and he had to tell her in person," the prosecution said. To conceal his deeds, Teo told the woman not to tell anyone about their conversations and also deleted his chats with her. After his offences came to light, Teo told investigators that he was motivated by lust. Deputy Public Prosecutors David Menon and Jonathan Tan sought a jail term of between 15 and 18 months for Teo, against the defence's proposed jail term of 12 months. Teo was represented by lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan. The prosecution said the offence was clearly premeditated and Teo had actively solicited corrupt gratification for himself. "By abusing his position as a police officer, the accused has caused reputational harm to SPF. But the accused compounded this harm when he told (the woman) that he knew senior officers at CNB who could be bribed. "The accused also claimed that urine test results could be fabricated if the right 'connections' were made. This was a baseless claim that had the potential to harm CNB's reputational integrity," the Mr Menon and Mr Tan said.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Independent Singapore
2 Singaporeans arrested in Thailand over human trafficking and money laundering charges
BANGKOK/SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man identified as Dexter was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Jun 18 for his suspected involvement in a transnational human trafficking and money laundering syndicate, but Dexter was not acting alone. In a joint statement released on Jun 19, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed that he was one of two Singaporean men, aged 36 and 38, arrested in Thailand alongside a 50-year-old Thai national in a coordinated cross-border operation with the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The arrests took place a day earlier, on Jun 17. The bust led to the seizure of assets worth over 20 million baht (S$790,600), including cash, luxury condominiums, laptops, mobile phones, hard drives, and multiple bank and SIM cards. Years in the making According to the SPF, investigations began in 2023 into the syndicate, which allegedly recruited foreign women and trafficked them into Singapore for vice work. Between April 2023 and May 2025, at least 76 women were arrested for prostitution-related offences, many believed to have been managed by the same criminal network. See also BREAKING: Tan Cheng Bock's new party members revealed Coordinated investigations between the SPF and RTP yielded key insights that ultimately led to the identification of the trio. The 38-year-old Singaporean was allegedly responsible for laundering the profits of the vice operations by channelling them through a complex network of bank accounts across borders. The 36-year-old Singaporean is said to have played a supporting role in facilitating the movement and management of the sex workers. Arrest at the airport Thai immigration authorities were tipped off that a wanted foreign national tied to prostitution and money laundering would be arriving in Bangkok on Singapore Airlines flight SQ714 from Changi Airport. Upon landing, Dexter was swiftly intercepted by officers from Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and immigration police. At least eight personnel surrounded him and escorted him away for questioning. He was later transferred to the Technology Crime Suppression Division for formal proceedings. He now faces multiple charges under Thai law, including: Conspiracy to procure, entice, or traffic persons for immoral purposes Promoting and facilitating prostitution for gain Advertising or soliciting prostitution via public media Conspiracy to commit money laundering See also Japanese man fills bathtub with curry rice and fulfils dream Transnational collaboration Singapore's Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of Police Yeo Yee Chuan, deputy director of the SPF's Criminal Investigation Department, praised the collaboration between both forces. 'The SPF is committed to working closely with our regional partners, and we thank the RTP for their invaluable collaboration in dismantling this criminal network,' said SAC Yeo. 'Together, we can prevent the exploitation of women, stem the scourge of transnational crimes, and take affirmative action against the laundering of criminal proceeds.' RTP's Police Lieutenant-General Jirabhop Bhuridej echoed the sentiment, noting that the success of the operation was due to the professionalism and dedication of both Singaporean and Thai officers. Frozen assets As part of the ongoing investigation, the SPF has frozen over S$1.26 million in suspected criminal proceeds from the Singapore bank accounts linked to the 38-year-old suspect. The suspects remain in Thai custody as legal proceedings unfold.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
2 Singaporeans among 3 arrested in Thailand in joint anti-vice sweep
Investigations began in 2023 into the vice syndicate, which allegedly recruited foreign women and sent them to Singapore to work as vice workers. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE SINGAPORE - Two Singaporean men were among three arrested in Thailand for their alleged involvement in operating a transnational vice syndicate, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on June 19. The Singaporean suspects, aged 36 and 38, as well as a 50-year-old Thai man , were arrested on June 17 in a cross-border operation with the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Assets worth more than 20 million Thai baht (S$790,600), comprising cash in bank accounts and two condominium units, together with laptops, mobile phones, hard drives, bank cards and SIM cards, were also seized by the RTP when the trio was arrested on June 17 . The SPF also froze more than $1.26 million of suspected criminal proceeds from the Singapore bank accounts of the 38-year-old man. According to a June 18 report from Thai news website Khaosod English, one of the Singaporean men was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, having arrived on a flight from Singapore. The Thai police had acted on information of the man's arrival, and the man had multiple arrest warrants, according to the news outlet. The Straits Times has learned that the 38-year-old Singaporean was arrested at the airport, while the 36-year-old man was arrested at his Thai residence. The cross-border anti-vice operation was executed in Thailand by the Royal Thai Police. PHOTOS: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE Investigations began in 2023 into the vice syndicate, which allegedly recruited foreign women and sent them to Singapore to work as vice workers, SPF said . At least 76 vice workers, who were allegedly managed by the syndicate, were arrested f rom April 2023 to May 2025 , and the resulting investigations 'established useful information' against the syndicate, SPF added. The identities of the three suspects were established after police o fficers from Thailand and Singapore shared their findings on the syndicate. The 38-year-old man allegedly used a complex network of bank accounts to remit the prostitution earnings of the vice workers from Singapore to Thailand, while the 36-year-old man allegedly supported the syndicate in the transnational vice operations, said the Singapore police. Investigations are ongoing. Photos from past anti-vice ops related to the syndicate. PHOTOS: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE In the statement, Singapore's Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Yeo Yee Chuan stressed the importance of cooperation in areas such as information sharing, operations and investigations, in combating transnational syndicated crime. 'The SPF is committed to working closely with our regional partners, and we thank the RTP for their invaluable collaboration in dismantling this criminal network to prevent the exploitation of women, stem the scourge of transnational crimes and take affirmative actions against the laundering of criminal proceeds,' said SAC Yeo, who is the deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Department. Thailand's Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej added: 'The dedication and professionalism of the SPF and RTP officers were instrumental in the successful cross-border operational collaboration which led to the apprehension of the transnational criminal syndicate.' Additional reporting by Lok Jian Wen Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
