An American Airlines flight traveling from New York City to New Delhi, India, was unexpectedly diverted on Sunday after a security concern emerged while the plane was flying over the Caspian Sea. The flight, later identified as Flight 292, safely landed at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) in Rome without any injuries reported.
Security Concern Later Deemed “Non-Credible”
According to an official statement from American Airlines, the diversion was prompted by a security concern, though no specific details about the issue were disclosed. After landing in Rome, law enforcement conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft and later confirmed that the security threat was non-credible.
“The flight landed safely at FCO, and law enforcement inspected and cleared the aircraft to re-depart,” said an airline spokesperson. “Safety and security are our top priorities, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
Italian Military Escorted the Plane to Safety
In response to the alert, two Italian military fighter jets escorted the aircraft as it approached Rome’s airport to ensure a safe landing. Upon arrival, fire trucks were seen on standby at the runway, although no injuries or further incidents were reported.
A spokesperson from FCO Airport mentioned that the airport remained fully operational throughout the incident, with minimal disruption to other flights.
Passenger Reactions: Anxiety in the Air
One of the passengers, Neeraj Chopra, recounted the tense moments on board. He told the Associated Press (AP) that the captain announced a change in security status about three hours before the plane was scheduled to land in New Delhi.
“I felt a little panic of, OK, what’s going on here?” Chopra said. “There’s got to be something bigger going on here.”
Passengers were informed about the security issue while flying over the Caspian Sea, which triggered concern, especially after the announcement that fighter jets would escort the plane to Rome.
Flight 292 to Resume Journey After Crew Rest
The diverted flight originated from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and was en route to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. After the unexpected diversion, American Airlines announced that the flight would remain overnight in Rome to allow the crew sufficient rest before resuming the journey to India on Monday.
No Ongoing Threat to Flight Safety
Authorities have confirmed that there was no credible threat to the safety of the passengers, crew, or aircraft. The incident appears to have been a precautionary measure in response to a potential security risk that was later determined to be unfounded.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority,” an American Airlines spokesperson reiterated.
