A Singapore court has sentenced a 19-year-old local resident to probation for posting a false bomb threat against an aircraft on social media. The incident occurred in July last year when the youth, before boarding a Scoot budget airline flight, posted a joking message online about his intention to blow up the plane he was on, according to infohub.kz.
The post immediately drew the attention of law enforcement and Changi Airport security. The airliner was moved to a special stand, and all passengers and crew were urgently evacuated for a thorough search involving bomb disposal experts and sniffer dogs. The inspection found no explosive devices or dangerous items on board.
During the trial, the defendant fully admitted his guilt and showed remorse, explaining that he had not intended to commit a crime and considered his post harmless humor. The court took into account his age and guilty plea, sentencing him to probation with mandatory community service.