After a carefully coordinated overnight operation by multiple agencies in Singapore, a 250kg World War II-era aerial bomb discovered at a construction site near Changi Airport has been safely disposed of, with authorities confirming that it will have no impact on airport operations. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has assessed that the unexploded ordnance (UXO) discovered during operations along Tanah Merah Coast Road in the Changi East Development Area was too unstable to be moved and required a controlled detonation on site.
Discovery, Assessment and Risk
According to the Singapore Police Force, police were first alerted to the war relics during construction at 4:55 a.m. on March 31. The Singapore Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team later confirmed it was a 250kg bomb. Second World War Aerial bombs, possibly Type 3 “jump bombs,” were historically used against maritime targets such as ships. Due to its condition, the Singapore Armed Forces determined that the equipment was unsafe for transport. The disposal window was scheduled between 2:30 and 4:30 a.m. on April 2, with the final explosion occurring at approximately 2:23 a.m.
The bombs detonated safely at a construction site flanking both runways at Singapore’s Changi Airport. /Photo: Singapore Police Force
Authorities earlier warned the public that loud noises could be made during the construction, which is taking place entirely within the building site. The disposal site is located adjacent to Changi Airport’s two runways, including Runway 2, close to Changi Jurassic Avenue and Tanah Merah Country Club’s Tampines Course, within the Changi East development and is earmarked for Terminal 5, Singapore’s largest aviation expansion project to date.
How bombs are destroyed
Singapore’s Ministry of Defense said in a detailed statement that personnel from its Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defense Team built extensive protective works around the bomb. These include “compacted sandbag tops and reinforced concrete barriers” designed to contain blast pressure and debris.
Authorities detonated the bomb safely using compacted sandbags and reinforced concrete barriers to contain the explosion and debris/Photo: Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF)
“The munition was subsequently disposed of via a controlled explosion in the early morning hours, minimizing disruption to the public and airport operations,” the Ministry of Defense said. The agency added that “security cordons have been established and protective measures have been implemented to protect the safety of personnel, infrastructure and the public.” Visuals from the scene describe a bright flash followed seconds later by a huge explosion and billowing smoke rising from the scene.
A bright flash illuminated the scene, followed by a huge explosion and rising smoke/Photo: Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), Asiaone
Cross-agency coordination
The operation involved close coordination between multiple agencies, including the Singapore Armed Forces, the Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the police and Changi Airport Group. Lieutenant Colonel Cheng Junjie, commander of the 36th Battalion of the Singapore Combat Engineer Battalion, emphasized the combat methods. He said: “We maintain a high level of operational readiness and remain committed to keeping Singapore safe. For incidents like this, we respond quickly, plan carefully and work closely with our partner agencies to effectively mitigate risks and execute operations safely.” From a technical perspective, DSTA’s senior principal engineer Ng Chor Boon explains how modeling affects response: “We apply advanced numerical modeling techniques to determine the impact of blast leakage from reinforced structures on the surrounding environment… This allows us to calculate safe zones, allowing SAF commanders and planners to better balance operations and mitigate risks to the surrounding environment.”
There will be no disruption to flights or infrastructure
Despite the large scale of operations, airport activity has been largely uninterrupted. Inquiries for CNA, CNA and other media straits timesCAG confirmed that the disposal was “successfully completed early this morning” and that “infrastructure and systems near the site were inspected and no issues were identified.” Runway 2 was temporarily closed as a precaution, but flights continued via Runway 1. Vincent Hwa, Director of Air Traffic Services at CAAS said: “As the flight path did not cross the disposal site, no airspace restrictions were implemented. Flight operations have not been affected. “ At that time, 10 inbound flights and 18 outbound flights were scheduled during the disposal window.
One of the largest found in Singapore
Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing followed said in a Facebook post The bomb was “one of the largest ever discovered in Singapore” and it thanked all agencies involved for ensuring the operation caused minimal disruption. Due to Singapore’s wartime history, the discovery of unexploded ordnance is not uncommon, although they are not always handled on site. A 100kg bomb found in Upper Bukit Timah in 2023 required evacuation and caused structural damage to nearby houses, while a 227kg bomb was abandoned in Pulau Senan in 2016. This time, however, a combination of precise engineering, inter-agency coordination and controlled execution ensured that the high-risk operation in one of the country’s busiest and most sensitive locations was completed without incident.
