Singapore jails Australian tourist for making false bomb threat on flight

By Hoang Vu December 25, 2023 | 01:31 am PT

Scoot, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Singapore's Changi Airport, Singapore, Jan. 18, 2021. Photo by Reuters

A Singapore court has sentenced an Australian man to six months in jail for making a false bomb threat on a flight bound for Perth.

Hawkins Kevin Francis, 30, pleaded guilty last Friday to one charge of making false threats of terrorist acts, The Strait Times reported.

The court ruled Hawkins was suffering from a relapse of schizophrenia coupled with an episode of major depressive disorder at the time based on a report from the Institute of Mental Health that was presented to court.

However, he knew what he was doing when he made the false bomb threat, a judge said as cited by Channel News Asia.

The incident happened on Oct. 12 on a Scoot flight with 11 crew members and 363 passengers.

Shortly after the seat belt sign was turned off, Hawkins, traveling with his wife, got up from his seat and told a member of the cabin crew that "I have a bomb," South China Morning Post reported.

He told another cabin crew member there was a "bomb" in his trousers pocket, which actually contained his nasal inhaler.

His actions forced the plane to turn back to Singapore an hour into the journey.