Earlier this week on 12 August, a 55-year-old man was arrested for misusing his boarding pass to gain unauthorized access to the transit area of Changi Airport.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release that the middle-aged man had allegedly bought an air ticket with the purpose of obtaining a boarding pass to use it to enter the transit area of Changi Airport, not to embark on a departing flight himself, but to bid farewell to his departing girlfriend.
The man’s actions directly violated the Infrastructure Protection Act of 2017, a law enacted to prevent the misuse of boarding passes for unauthorized entry into restricted areas of airports.
The Gravitas of the Offense
The Singapore Police Force said that they take such incidents seriously, recognizing the potential threat they pose to aviation security.
Police investigations into the incident are currently underway.
A Growing Concern
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one. From January to August of 2023 alone, SPF has already apprehended 16 individuals for misusing boarding passes under the Infrastructure Protection Act.
These cases highlight a disturbing trend of individuals attempting to access transit areas for reasons other than travel, prompting authorities to tighten their vigilance and enforcement measures.
Changi Airport’s transit areas hold a unique legal status as Protected Places. This designation carries significant implications for anyone attempting to misuse a boarding pass to gain access.
The Infrastructure Protection Act of 2017 leaves little room for leniency. Those found guilty of misusing boarding passes to enter restricted areas face a maximum sentence of two years in jail, a fine of up to S$20,000, or both.
Signs displayed around airport
Some of the signs warning visitors of unauthorised entry were placed around the airports, stating: “Warning: It is an arrestable offence to enter the transit area if you do not intend to travel, even if you have a boarding pass”.
The Singapore Police Force also added: “The police would like to remind members of the public that the transit areas of Changi Airport are gazetted as Protected Places. Those who make use of boarding pass to enter the transit area for reasons other than to travel out of Singapore will be detected and arrested.”