An American Airlines flight traveling from New York City to New Delhi, India, was diverted to Rome on Sunday due to a security concern that was later deemed “non-credible.” The flight, identified as AA292, was over the Caspian Sea when passengers and crew were informed of the issue. The aircraft was rerouted to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) in Rome, which was deemed suitable for handling such incidents.
The flight, carrying 199 passengers and 15 crew members, landed safely at FCO, where law enforcement inspected the aircraft. American Airlines later confirmed that the security concern was determined to be non-credible, and the plane was cleared for departure. The airline did not provide further details regarding the nature of the security concern but emphasized that safety and security remain their top priorities.
Italian authorities dispatched two military fighter jets to escort the aircraft as it approached Rome. Upon landing, fire trucks were positioned on the tarmac as a precaution, but no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The airport remained fully operational during the incident.
One passenger, Neeraj Chopra, recounted the moment the captain informed them that the flight would need to turn back approximately three hours before its scheduled arrival in Delhi due to a change in “security status.” Chopra described feeling uneasy, particularly when the captain later announced that fighter jets would be accompanying their descent into Rome.
The flight, which had originally departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), was scheduled to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. Due to the delay, the aircraft will remain in Rome overnight to allow the crew to meet the required rest period before resuming the journey to India on Monday.
American Airlines apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and reiterated that safety protocols were followed to ensure the well-being of everyone onboard.
