An American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi safely landed in Rome on Sunday after being diverted due to a security concern, which was later deemed to be “non-credible,” according to the airline. American Airlines stated that Flight 292 was inspected by law enforcement upon arrival at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and was cleared to continue its journey. The airline did not specify the exact nature of the security concern but mentioned that an inspection was necessary by protocol before the flight could reach New Delhi. The airline also noted that the flight would remain in Rome overnight to allow for crew rest, with plans to resume the journey to New Delhi the following day.
A reporter captured footage of two fighter jets flying over the airport just before the unscheduled landing. After the plane landed, fire trucks were seen on one side of the runway.
Neeraj Chopra, a passenger on the flight, mentioned that the captain informed everyone about a change in the “security status” about three hours before the plane was scheduled to land in New Delhi, which led to the flight being diverted. Chopra, who was on his way from Detroit to visit family, said the atmosphere on the plane was calm initially, but he started feeling anxious when the captain later announced that fighter jets would be escorting the plane to Rome. “I started to feel a bit of panic, wondering what was happening,” Chopra said. “It seemed like something bigger was going on.”
Jonathan Bacon, a 22-year-old passenger from Dayton, Ohio, began paying closer attention to the flight tracker on the seatback in front of him after the captain announced the “diversion due to a security issue.” He noticed the plane making a sharp turn away from New Delhi and heading back toward Rome. Bacon mentioned that passengers had little to no internet connection during most of the flight, with only occasional access that provided early reports of the situation about two hours before landing.
After the plane landed, Bacon mentioned that all passengers were transported by bus to the terminal, where they and their belongings underwent further security checks. The screenings were time-consuming and felt “slightly heightened,” particularly for those arriving. Over two hours after landing, Bacon and his friend were still waiting for their checked luggage, which was also being screened. “It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” Bacon said. An airport spokesperson stated that operations at the airport continued as usual.