He Thought the Knife Was Hidden—Then Airport X-Ray Officers Spotted What Was Inside His Shoe

SINGAPORE — A routine security screening at Changi Airport allegedly uncovered a concealed knife inside the shoe of a 32-year-old Indonesian man, who is set to face court proceedings in Singapore.

The incident happened at around 1.10pm on Thursday, August 27, at the centralised departure security screening area of Terminal 4, according to Singapore authorities.

The man allegedly concealed a 19.5cm-long knife with a 12cm blade inside a sock, which was then placed inside his right high-cut shoe. Police said the weapon had also been wrapped in several layers of plastic bags and sealed with tape.

Airport X-ray screening detects suspicious object

The concealment attempt was allegedly detected during airport security screening.

After the man was instructed to remove his shoes before proceeding through the screening lane, a Certis Cisco aviation security officer operating the X-ray machine spotted what appeared to be a suspicious sharp object inside his right shoe.

He was subsequently escorted to a search room, where officers allegedly discovered the knife together with its sheath concealed inside the shoe.

The discovery highlights the role of airport security screening in detecting prohibited or potentially dangerous items before passengers can proceed beyond the security checkpoint.

Indonesian man faces offensive-weapon charge

The man is expected to be charged on August 29 with carrying an offensive weapon in a public place.

Under Singapore law, the offence can carry a maximum jail term of three years and a minimum of six strokes of the cane, according to reports by CNA and The Straits Times.

Singapore authorities have also warned that attempts to bring offensive weapons into public spaces will be dealt with firmly.

Travellers are reminded that possessing an offensive weapon without a lawful purpose can result in enforcement action.

What happens next?

The man’s case will now move to court, where the allegations will be dealt with through the legal process.

Importantly, the charge is an allegation and does not by itself establish guilt. The court will determine the outcome of the case.

The incident also serves as a reminder that airport security checks can detect items that passengers attempt to conceal, including objects hidden inside clothing or footwear.

For travellers departing from Singapore, Changi Airport maintains a list of prohibited and controlled items, including various weapons and other articles that may pose public-safety concerns.

The knife may have been hidden from plain sight—but the airport’s X-ray screening detected it before the traveller could proceed.