Australian man, 30, arrested for alleged mid-flight bomb threat on Scoot flight to Perth

SINGAPORE: An Australian man, aged 30, was apprehended on Thursday (12 Oct), after allegedly making a bomb threat during a Scoot flight en route to Perth.

After takeoff, the aircraft made a swift return to Singapore’s Changi Airport, flanked by fighter jets, one hour into the journey.

The flight accommodated 363 passengers and 11 crew members.

The Straits Times reported that the authorities received a tip-off about the potential bomb threat at around 4:55 p.m.

Following a thorough security check, the male suspect was arrested on charges of criminal intimidation. Ongoing investigations are currently in progress.

In response to the incident, a representative of the Singapore Police Force emphasized their dedication to treating security threats with utmost seriousness.

They stressed that swift action will be taken against any individual who deliberately incites public fear.

A spokesperson from Scoot confirmed the occurrence, stating that Flight TR16 had departed Changi Airport at 4:11 p.m., but due to the bomb threat, the decision was made to return to the airport approximately an hour later.

The aircraft landed back at Changi Airport at 6:27 p.m.

RSAF deployed two F-15SG fighter jets to escort the Scoot plane

Two F-15SG fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) were deployed to escort the plane, with simultaneous mobilization of emergency services, in response to the alarming situation.

Post-landing, rigorous security checks were conducted on the aircraft.

While Scoot is actively aiding ongoing investigations, the spokesperson emphasized the sensitivity of the issue, preventing the disclosure of further details.

Expressing deep regret for the inconvenience caused, the Scoot spokesperson reaffirmed the airline’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew.

In a related Facebook post, the RSAF confirmed the dispatch of two F-15SG fighter jets to provide escort assistance to the Scoot aircraft.