NEW DELHI: An American Airlines flight en route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome following a mid-air bomb threat.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying over 280 passengers, diverted its course over the Caspian Sea before heading westward toward Italy.
According to flight tracking data, Flight AA292 took off from New York at approximately 8:30 pm on Saturday for its scheduled 14-hour journey to the Indian capital. However, around 10 hours into the flight, the aircraft executed an abrupt turn near the Black Sea, reversing its path before heading toward Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
Upon nearing Italian airspace, the plane was reportedly escorted by Italian fighter jets as a precautionary measure. It landed safely in Rome at around 5:30 pm local time.
While authorities have not disclosed the precise nature of the security alert, sources suggest that a bomb threat was received mid-flight, necessitating an immediate assessment by airline and security officials. The decision to divert to Rome instead of opting for a closer landing site has drawn attention, with aviation experts attributing it to American Airlines' established operational base in the Italian capital.
A spokesperson for Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Francesco Garibaldi, did not give the reason for the change in flight plans, however, said that security checks are being done.
By landing at a facility with existing security infrastructure and airline support, authorities could ensure a controlled investigation while minimising disruption for passengers. Despite the severity of the threat, the aircraft’s prolonged flight duration before diversion indicates that officials may have deemed the risk level manageable.
"We have safely deboarded the aircraft. Huge credit to the cabin crew for handling the situation so well. Everyone in the aircraft was calm," says Yash Raj, a data scientist, who was on the flight.
The incident adds to a growing list of aviation security threats in recent months, with an increase in bomb threats targeting commercial airlines. Authorities in the United States and Europe are expected to conduct a joint investigation into the credibility and origin of the threat.
Passengers on board are undergoing security checks, and the aircraft is being thoroughly inspected before any further travel arrangements are made. Meanwhile, American Airlines has assured that all necessary precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of travellers. Further details are awaited.