Singapore's air force sent two fighter jets to escort an incoming passenger plane over a bomb threat which turned out to be a hoax, say officials.

There were 144 passengers on board Scoot flight TR385 from Cebu in the Philippines on Sunday when police were alerted to a security threat.

A 13-year-old unidentified male passenger was allegedly behind the hoax, according to local media outlets.

He is currently assisting police with their investigations, said the reports.

A spokesman from Singapore carrier Scoot told news outlet The Straits Times that all 144 passengers and six crew members onboard the plane landed safely at 16:49 (08:49 GMT) on Sunday at Changi Airport.

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen later said Singapore would "take every threat as real until proven otherwise".

"Two [fighter jets] scrambled to escort an inbound Scoot plane but it turned out to be a false alarm," Mr Ng said in a post on Facebook.

"However, the Republic of Singapore Air Force will stay ever vigilant."

BBC
BDST: 1258 HRS, JUNE 3, 2019
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