Fighter Jets Escort Scoot Airlines Flight to Singapore, Australian Arrested Over Bomb Threat

An Australian man was arrested by Singapore police on Thursday after a Scoot airlines flight was escorted back to Singapore due to a bomb threat. According to Reuters, the 30-year-old was arrested for criminal intimidation, and a police investigation is underway.

The Singapore air force and emergency services were called in to accompany the Perth-bound Scoot airlines flight back to Singapore, according to the budget carrier.

Scoot claimed in an emailed statement that a “precautionary” decision was made to turn back the flight around an hour into the voyage “due to a bomb threat.”

According to Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen’s Facebook post, two F-15SG fighter jets were deployed to accompany the Scoot flight back to Changi Airport.

The Scoot Airlines flight arrived in Singapore at 6:27 p.m. local time (10:27 GMT) for security checks, according to Singapore Airlines Group’s low-cost unit.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, one runway was stopped for roughly an hour “to facilitate ground operations,” and eight arriving flights and six departures were delayed as a result of the event.

“Scoot is assisting law enforcement with their investigations.” We regret that we are unable to provide any specifics due to security concerns,” a spokeswoman stated, according to local media.

Last September, fighter jets were also called in to escort a Singapore Airlines flight after a passenger made a bomb threat.

Scoot Airlines, also known simply as Scoot, is a low-cost airline based in Singapore. It is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and operates as a budget carrier. Scoot was founded in 2011 and has since expanded its route network to cover various destinations in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Europe.

Scoot is known for its no-frills, low-cost approach to air travel, offering passengers the option to pay for additional services and amenities a la carte. These services can include meals, seat selection, and baggage allowance, among others.

The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A320 aircraft, offering both short-haul and long-haul flights. Scoot’s focus is primarily on connecting Singapore with cities across Asia and beyond, providing travelers with affordable options for leisure and business travel.

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