Singapore scrambles F-15 jets after bomb threat on Air India Express flight

Two F-15 fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) were dispatched on the evening of October 15 after a bomb threat was reported on board Air India Express flight AXB684, en route from Madurai, India, to Singapore.

Air India Express had received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 that was bound for Singapore, Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Singaporean minister of defence said in a post on Twitter.

He also stated that the F-15SG jets guided the aircraft away from densely populated areas before it safely landed at Changi Airport at around 10:04 pm. The airport’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were also activated in response to the incident.

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Upon landing, the plane was handed over to the airport police, and investigations are currently underway.

“Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us,” Minister Ng expressed.

Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our SAF and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us..

— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) October 15, 2024

The number of passengers on the flight was not disclosed. There was no immediate statement from Air India Express regarding the incident.

Tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated that the flight had circled for nearly an hour east of Singapore. It was originally scheduled to land at 8:50 pm, but arrived over an hour late, touching down at 10:04 pm.