An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi made an unscheduled landing in Rome on Sunday after a security concern, later deemed “non-credible.” The flight, initially bound for New Delhi, was diverted to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome after a bomb threat was reportedly emailed, according to NBC sources.
Upon landing, the flight was inspected by law enforcement, and passengers were cleared to continue their journey. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the crew reported the threat, which prompted a protocol inspection before the flight could land in New Delhi.
American Airlines Flight 292, which had been three hours into its flight, remained in Rome overnight to allow for required crew rest. It was scheduled to continue its journey to Delhi the next day.
As the flight approached Rome, two fighter jets were seen escorting the plane, and fire trucks were visible on the runway upon landing. Neeraj Chopra, a passenger on board, said the mood was calm initially but grew tense after the announcement that fighter jets would be escorting the flight.
“I felt a little panic of, okay, what’s going on here?” Chopra said. “There’s got to be like something bigger going on here.”
Passenger Jonathan Bacon from Dayton, Ohio, noticed the sharp turn back to Rome on the flight tracker after the captain announced a “security issue.” Bacon described the mood on the flight as unsettling, especially as passengers had limited internet access and could only follow early reports of the situation.
After landing, passengers underwent additional security screenings, and their baggage was also checked, leading to significant delays in retrieving their belongings.
Despite the scare, the airport continued to operate as usual, and American Airlines assured that the situation was resolved safely.
