Singapore’s military deployed two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane following a bomb threat, the most recent in a series of hoaxes affecting flights from India. The threat was directed at a flight departing from Madurai airport in southern India and bound for Changi airport. The email threat prompted swift action from Singapore’s defence minister, Ng Eng Hen, who confirmed the scramble of F-15SG fighter jets to accompany the aircraft to a safe landing at Singapore Changi airport.
The aircraft’s flight path was disrupted by over an hour due to the bomb scare, with the plane eventually touching down at 10.04pm local time under heavy security measures. Authorities activated Ground Based Air Defence and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Following a thorough search, no threat items were discovered onboard, confirming it as a hoax.
Singapore police were alerted to the bomb threat hours after the flight had taken off, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the threat and prevent such incidents in the future. Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one, as several flights originating from India have been targeted by hoax bomb threats in the past 48 hours.
Reports indicate that at least ten flights were affected by similar threats through email and social media messages. In one instance, an Air India flight en route from Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in Canada for security checks. Air India has acknowledged the threats and emphasized that all precautionary measures are being taken seriously to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, has yet to release an official statement regarding the recent string of bomb threats. The aviation industry remains on high alert as authorities work to address the escalating situation and reassure passengers of their safety amidst these concerning developments.