An American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on Sunday afternoon due to a security concern that was later deemed “non-credible,” The Associated Press reports.
American Airlines Flight 292 was inspected by law enforcement upon arrival in Rome and subsequently cleared for departure. The airline did not specify the nature of the security concern but stated that the inspection was required by protocol before the flight could continue to New Delhi.
“The flight will stay in Rome overnight to allow for required crew rest before continuing to Delhi as soon as possible tomorrow,” the airline said in a statement.
Passenger Neeraj Chopra said that the captain announced a change in “security status” some three hours before the scheduled arrival in New Delhi, necessitating the diversion. Chopra, who was traveling from Detroit, said the atmosphere on the plane was initially calm, but he became concerned when the captain later announced that fighter jets would be escorting the aircraft to Rome.
Another passenger, Jonathan Bacon, monitored the flight tracker after the captain announced the diversion, noting the plane’s sharp turn away from its original route. Bacon reported limited internet access during the flight, with passengers only receiving sporadic updates about the situation approximately two hours before landing.
Following the landing, passengers were transported to the terminal by bus, where they and their belongings underwent additional security screenings. Bacon noted that the screenings were time-consuming and felt “slightly heightened.” As of several hours after landing, passengers were still awaiting the return of their checked baggage, which was also undergoing security checks.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the airport was continuing to operate as normal.
