A 250kg aerial bomb from World War II discovered at a construction site close to Changi Airport was safely destroyed after a meticulously planned overnight operation involving several Singapore agencies, with officials confirming airport operations were unaffected. The unexploded ordnance (UXO), uncovered during work on Tanah Merah Coast Road inside the Changi East development area, was judged by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to be too unstable to relocate, so a controlled detonation on site was required.
Discovery, assessment and risk
The Singapore Police Force said officers were notified of the wartime device at 4.55am on March 31 while construction was underway. SAF’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists later classified it as a 250kg World War II aerial bomb, probably a Type 3 “skipping bomb” historically aimed at sea targets like ships. Because of its fragile condition, the SAF concluded it could not be moved safely. A disposal slot was set between 2.30am and 4.30am on April 2, and the controlled detonation took place at about 2.23am.
The bomb was safely detonated at a construction site flanked by two runways at Singapore’s Changi Airport./PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
Officials had warned residents to expect loud noises during the procedure, which remained fully contained within the construction boundaries. The disposal location, positioned between two Changi Airport runways (including Runway 2), is close to Changi Jurassic Mile and the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club, inside the Changi East zone planned for Terminal 5, Singapore’s largest airport expansion so far.
How the bomb was neutralised
In a comprehensive statement, the Ministry of Defence (Singapore) explained that its Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defence Group built substantial protective structures around the bomb. These measures featured “compacted sandbag overhead cover and reinforced concrete barriers” to limit blast effects and prevent shrapnel spread.
Authorities safely detonated the bomb using compacted sandbags and reinforced concrete barriers to contain the blast and fragmentation/ Image: Ministry of Defence, Singapore (MINDEF)
“The ordnance was subsequently disposed (of) through a controlled detonation in the early morning, minimising disruption to the public and airport operations,” MINDEF stated. The ministry added that “safety cordons were established and protective measures implemented to safeguard personnel, infrastructure, and the public.” Footage from the scene showed a bright flash followed by a loud blast moments later and a column of smoke rising above the area.
A bright flash lit the site, followed by a loud explosion and a rising plume of smoke/ Image: Ministry of Defence, Singapore (MINDEF), Asiaone
Coordination across agencies
The mission required tight cooperation among several organisations, including the SAF, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the police, and Changi Airport Group. Lieutenant Colonel Tay Jun Jie, Commanding Officer of the 36th Battalion Singapore Combat Engineers, highlighted their operational method, saying: “We maintain a high level of operational readiness and remain committed to safeguarding Singapore’s security. For such incidents, we respond swiftly, plan thoroughly and work closely with partner agencies to mitigate risks effectively and execute operations safely.” From an engineering perspective, DSTA’s senior principal engineer Ng Chor Boon described how modelling guided the plan: “We applied advanced numerical modelling techniques to determine the effects of the fortified structure’s blast leakages on the surroundings… These enabled us to compute the safety zones which enabled the SAF commanders and planners to better balance operations and mitigate risks to the surroundings.”
No disruption to flights or infrastructure
Despite the extensive precautions, airport operations were largely unaffected. Replying to enquiries from outlets including CNA and The Straits Times, CAG said the disposal was completed “successfully early this morning” and that “the infrastructure and systems in the vicinity of the site were checked, and no issues were observed.” As a safeguard, Runway 2 was briefly closed, while traffic continued to use Runway 1. Vincent Hwa, director of air traffic services at CAAS, noted: “Since flight paths did not traverse over the disposal site, no airspace restrictions were imposed. There was no impact to flight operations.” At the time, 10 inbound and 18 outbound flights were scheduled during the disposal window.
One of the largest found in Singapore
Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing later said in a Facebook post the bomb was “one of the largest ever discovered in Singapore”, and he thanked the agencies involved for keeping disruption to a minimum. Unexploded munitions surface periodically in Singapore because of its wartime past, though they are not always dealt with on site. A 100kg bomb found in 2023 at Upper Bukit Timah prompted evacuations and damaged nearby homes, while a 227kg device in 2016 was neutralised on Pulau Senang. On this occasion, precise engineering, inter-agency cooperation and a controlled execution ensured the high-risk task finished without incident in one of the nation’s most active and sensitive areas
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