An American Airlines flight from New York's JFK Airport to New Delhi was diverted to Rome on Sunday after a bomb threat was received, causing a dramatic mid-air emergency.
The 199 passengers and 15 crew members onboard Flight 292 were forced to endure nearly 15 hours in the air as the plane, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, made an abrupt U-turn over Turkmenistan.
The airline confirmed that the flight, which was just two hours from its destination, was diverted due to a "possible security issue."
Passengers onboard reported growing unease when the captain announced the diversion but did not provide further details at the time.
According to NY Post, Passenger Neeraj Chopra, who was on his way from Detroit to visit family in India, said, "I felt a little panic of, OK, what's going on here?"
The Italian Air Force confirmed the plane was grounded in Rome after the bomb threat, which was initially sent via email. The threat was later determined to be "non-credible," but it caused a significant disruption.
As the plane neared Europe, it was escorted by two Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets, and passengers were left to anxiously wait as the aircraft made its way to the runway under fighter jet escort.
"It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I've ever taken," said Jonathan Bacon, a 22-year-old passenger from Dayton, Ohio.
🔴 New footage released by the Italian Air Force shows American Airlines flight AA292 being escorted by Eurofighters as it diverts to Rome Fiumicino due to a reported bomb threat. The flight was en route from New York JFK to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/yyNOAvZ1d7
— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) February 23, 2025
American Airlines Flight Diverts to Rome Following Bomb Threat Hoax
The flight landed at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome at 11:15 am ET, and passengers were immediately loaded onto buses for further security checks.
Although the plane had touched down, passengers were forced to wait for more than two hours before receiving their checked luggage.
American Airlines issued a statement thanking passengers for their patience and emphasized that "safety and security are our top priorities." The airline also confirmed they were working closely with local authorities in the aftermath of the incident, DailyMail said.
As part of the precautionary measures, all passengers underwent additional security screenings.
The plane was cleared by Italian law enforcement before being allowed to depart again. The crew's efforts in managing the situation were commended by many passengers, with one, Yash Raj, praising the calm atmosphere onboard, saying, "Huge credit to the cabin crew for handling the situation so well."
This incident follows a similar event earlier in the month when an American Airlines flight was delayed for more than four hours due to a prank involving a Wi-Fi hotspot with the message "There is a bomb on the flight."
American Airlines Flight 292's diversion comes amid a troubling year for the airline, which has faced several high-profile incidents, including a tragic crash in January involving a collision between a commercial plane and a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC While the bomb threat on Sunday was found to be false, it highlights growing concerns over safety and security in the aviation industry.
Passengers were expected to stay overnight in Rome before continuing their journey to New Delhi on Monday.
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