Hawkins Kevin Francis, a 30-year-old Australian man accused of making a bomb threat on a Scoot flight from Singapore to Perth in October, is poised to plead guilty next month, according to TODAY.
The incident led to the plane’s return to Singapore escorted by Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) fighter jets.
Legal Proceedings
Hawkins Kevin Francis appeared in court through video link on Monday (Dec 18), where he was represented by defense counsel Dhillon Surinder Singh. He faces charges under the United Nations Act for making a false bomb threat while onboard an aircraft. The hearing revealed that Hawkins is expected to enter a guilty plea in the coming weeks.
Bomb Threat Incident
The bomb threat occurred on October 12 during Scoot flight TR16 en route from Singapore to Perth. Hawkins allegedly informed a male cabin crew member that he had a bomb and repeated the word “bomb” to another female cabin crew member. In response to the threat, the plane had to turn back to Singapore with the escort of RSAF fighter jets.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed in a Facebook post that two F-15SG fighter planes were scrambled to escort the Scoot flight back to Changi Airport. The incident prompted swift action from authorities, highlighting the importance of addressing security threats in air travel.
Upon landing, officers from the Airport Police Division and Special Operations Command’s K-9 Unit mobilized to investigate the bomb threat. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore temporarily closed one runway to facilitate ground operations, causing delays for several flights.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
During the recent court hearing, Defense Counsel Dhillon discussed the issue of sentencing with Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Grace Chua. Given Hawkins’ close to three months in remand, an expedited guilty plea date was requested. District Judge Brenda Tan granted the request, setting Hawkins’ date to plead guilty on December 22.
Potential Consequences
If found guilty of making a false bomb threat, Hawkins could face a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in jail or a fine of up to S$500,000, or both. The severity of the charges reflects the gravity of threats to aviation security.