Man to be charged over bomb hoax made aboard flight at Changi Airport
A 22-year-old man will be charged on 5 June after allegedly posting a bomb threat on social media while aboard a plane preparing to depart Changi Airport. The aircraft was recalled and the man arrested. He faces up to seven years’ jail, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.
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.
