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A 36-year-old Australian tourist, Moncrieff Marli Curtis Philip, was sentenced to eight weeks in jail in Singapore after making threats to crash a flight. His remarks, made during a dispute over denied entry to two countries, were deemed a serious security concern.
Moncrieff’s ordeal began when he attempted to travel from Perth to Phuket, with a stopover in Singapore. Upon arrival in Phuket, he was denied entry because a page of visas had been torn from his passport. He was subsequently sent back to Singapore, where immigration officials also refused him entry for the same reason.
At Changi Airport, officers retrieved Moncrieff’s prescription medication for anxiety and depression and directed him to a holding room while arranging his return to Perth. However, as he was being escorted to board Jetstar flight JQ96 on November 20, 2024, Moncrieff made a threatening remark: “I want the aircraft to crash and kill everyone.”
A flight attendant overheard the comment and alerted airline managers, who removed him from the flight. Although a search of Moncrieff and his luggage revealed no suspicious items, he was handed over to authorities and scheduled for a later flight.
While waiting, Moncrieff spoke to his girlfriend and repeated the threat, stating he would crash any flight he was placed on. An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer overheard this and reported it. Although Moncrieff did not raise his voice, he expressed frustration and even requested to be sent to prison. Later that day, he was arrested following a police report.
During court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Shaun Lim argued for a sentence of eight to 12 weeks, citing the fear caused by Moncrieff’s remarks and the potential harm to Singapore’s reputation as a global air hub. Judge Toh Han Li emphasized the seriousness of Moncrieff’s words, noting that even verbal threats can disrupt aviation security and cause widespread anxiety.
Moncrieff, represented by a pro bono lawyer, apologised for his actions, attributing his behavior to stress from travel complications, mental health struggles, and personal losses, including missing two funerals. Despite his remorse, the court found no evidence linking his mental health issues to the incident.
The judge ultimately sentenced Moncrieff to eight weeks, underscoring that threats in an airport cannot be taken lightly, even if no harm results.
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