The photo of a man suspected to have been the cause of a bomb scare has gone viral, with a passenger of the same flight also took to Twitter to share what happened, noting that their flight was delayed four hours due to the incident.
“Fighter jets were circling around us for a good hour until we landed. I thought someone important just arrived and didn’t know that was us,” said the Twitter user.
“This guy yelled at the back of airplane saying there is a bomb. 4 hours delay because of this guy, and he got arrested. Singapore! Here I am,” she added.
Fighter jets were circling around us for a good hour until we landed. I thought someone important just arrived and didn’t know that was us😂 This guy yelled at the back of airplane saying there is a 💣. 4 hours delay because of this guy and he got arrested.
Singapore! Here I am😬 pic.twitter.com/hcf1wQlrpo— Vera 🍌💕🐒Token2049🇸🇬 (@veratheape) September 28, 2022
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen tweeted on Wednesday that F-16s were activated due to a bomb threat on the flight.
“Thankfully, the plane landed safely at Changi Airport. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion were involved too and gave the all-clear. Police investigations are ongoing,” he added.
.@TheRSAF F-16s were activated after a bomb threat onboard a Singapore Airlines flight. Thankfully, the plane landed safely at Changi Airport. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion were involved too and gave the all clear. Police investigations are ongoing. [File Photos] pic.twitter.com/j8EKaXYZ3D
— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) September 28, 2022
Reports noted that Singapore Airlines flight SQ33 from San Francisco on Tuesday at 1:26 pm (Singapore time) had an unruly passenger onboard.
Police were alerted of a bomb threat by a foreign national at about 2:40 am on Sept 28 (Wednesday), according to The Straits Times.
The Defence Ministry confirmed in a Facebook post that “teams from the Singapore Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defence Group and Airport Police Division were on site to verify the claims.”
“The threat was subsequently verified to be false, and the suspicious person has been arrested.”
Preliminary investigations noted that the passenger claimed there was a bomb in a hand-carry bag and assaulted the crew.
“He was restrained by the crew, and subsequently arrested… for suspected consumption of controlled drugs. Police investigations are ongoing,” said the police.
Those found guilty of making false claims about carrying out an act of terrorism can be punished with a maximum fine of S$500,000, up to 10 years imprisonment, or both. /TISG
Bomb threat on Singapore Airlines flight, woman and child detained for questioning