An American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport due to a bomb scare. The aircraft was escorted by two Italian Air Force fighter jets, ensuring a safe landing amid heightened security concerns. The flight, which had taken off from John F. Kennedy International Airport, was redirected after a security alert was raised. Passengers onboard were informed of the situation, and the airline confirmed that the threat was later deemed non-credible.
Bomb Scare Forces Diversion of American Airlines Flight to Rome
A Delhi-bound American Airlines flight from New York was diverted to Rome on Sunday afternoon (local time) due to a reported bomb scare. The aircraft was escorted to safety by two Eurofighter jets from the Italian Air Force. Visuals released by the Air Force show the fighter jets flanking the commercial plane as it made its way to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.
Italian Air Force Responds to Security Alert
The Italian Air Force shared footage of the incident on social media, stating, “#Scramble: This afternoon, two #Eurofighters of the #AeronauticaMilitare were dispatched on alert to identify and escort a commercial aircraft bound for Delhi that had reversed course towards Fiumicino Airport (RM) following a report of a presumed explosive device on board.”
Passengers Share Their Experiences
Passengers aboard the flight recounted the tense atmosphere. Mahesh Kumar, an IT consultant, recalled, “They asked us to sit down and not to roam around while the fighter jets were near us,” according to news agency AFP. The American Airlines flight AA292 departed from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday (February 22) at approximately 8:11 PM (local time) and turned back while flying over the Caspian Sea. About three hours before the scheduled landing in Delhi, the pilot announced the diversion to Rome due to “security reasons.”
The flight had 199 passengers and crew members on board. While American Airlines did not provide specific details about the “possible security concern,” Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the diversion was prompted by an “alleged bomb threat.” Another passenger, Yash Raj, described the experience as a “horror-comedy,” tweeting, “Life keeps giving me these little horror-comedies. Was on American Airlines AA292 😂.” He later expressed gratitude to the cabin crew for their professionalism, stating, “Also, we have safely deboarded the aircraft. Huge credit to the cabin crew for handling the situation so well. Everyone on the aircraft was calm.
