Singapore fighter jets escort Air India flight after bomb threat

Minister for Defence of Singapore Ng Eng Hen speaks during the 1st Plenary Session of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China, Sept. 13. EPA-Yonhap

Singapore's air force mobilized two fighter jets late on Tuesday in response to a bomb threat on an Air India Express flight bound for the city-state, its defense minister said.

Two Singapore air force F-15SG jets scrambled and escorted Air India flight AXB684 away from populated areas after the airline received an email that there was a bomb on board its plane, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post.

Ng said the plane was escorted and landed safely at Changi Airport at 10:04 p.m. (1404 GMT) on Tuesday, adding that Singapore's ground based air defense systems and explosive disposal team were also activated.

"Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the airport police," Ng said.

The police said "no threat items were found" on board the plane after completing security checks, adding that investigations were ongoing.

"The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm," it said in an emailed statement.

Air India did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But it said on social media that another of its flights bound for Chicago had landed in Canada as a precautionary measure on Tuesday following a security threat posted online.

"Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously," it said. (Reuters)