American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi diverted to Rome after security concern
Share and Follow

ROME (AP) — An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi, India, landed safely in Rome on Sunday afternoon after it was diverted due to a security concern, which later proved to be “non-credible,” the airline said.

American Airlines said Flight 292 “was inspected by law enforcement” after landing at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and “cleared to re-depart.”

It didn’t clarify the cause of the security concern, but added an inspection was required by protocol before the flight could land in New Delhi.

American Airlines flight AA292 en route from New York to New Delhi that turned around over the Caspian Sea Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, sits on the tamarack of Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International airport. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

“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.

An Associated Press reporter filmed two fighter jets flying over the airport shortly before the unscheduled landing. Fire trucks were visible on the landing strip on one side of the plane after it landed.

Neeraj Chopra, one of the passengers on board, said the captain announced that the plane had to turn around about three hours before it was supposed to land in New Delhi because of a change in “security status.”

Chopra, who was traveling from Detroit, Michigan to visit family, described the mood on the plane as calm after the initial announcement but said he began to feel stressed when the captain later announced that fighter jets would be escorting their plane to Rome.

“I felt a little panic of, okay, what’s going on here?” Chopra told the AP. “There’s got to be like something bigger going on here.”

Passenger Jonathan Bacon, 22, from Dayton, Ohio, started paying attention to the flight tracker on the seatback in front of him after the captain’s announcement of a “diversion due to a security issue,” observing the plane’s sharp turn away from New Delhi and route back toward Rome.

Passengers had no Internet connection for much of the flight, Bacon said, with only some spotty access that clued them into early reports of the situation about two hours before landing.

After landing, Bacon said all passengers were loaded onto buses and taken to the terminal, where each passenger and their personal items underwent additional security screenings that were time-consuming and felt “slightly heightened,” especially for arrivals. More than two hours after landing, Bacon and his friend said they were still waiting for their checked baggage, which they said were also undergoing security screenings.

“It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” Bacon said.

A spokesperson for the airport said it was continuing to operate normally.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
'Quite uncomfortable': New community task force pushes for upgrades to the Mathews Bridge

New Community Task Force Advocates for Essential Upgrades to the Mathews Bridge

A Jacksonville historian has initiated a grassroots movement, forming a task force…
Orange Park considers adding license plate reading cameras to roadways

Orange Park Explores Installation of License Plate Cameras on Local Roads

Details such as a vehicle’s license plate, manufacturer, model, and color can…
Cruise ship death mystery: Cheerleader's final posts hint at heartbreak and resilience as dad breaks silence

FBI Considers Charges for Teen in Shocking Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Homicide Case

MELBOURNE, Fla. — The tragic death of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard…
U.S. Border Patrol Commander at large Gregory Bovino, 3rd left, walks on the street in New Orleans, La.,Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Can New Orleans Reach Its Goal of 5,000 Immigration Arrests? Here’s What You Need to Know

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trump administration officials have embarked on an immigration…
January 6 pipe bomb suspect is NOT a Trump supporter, family claims

Unveiling the Truth: January 6 Pipe Bomb Suspect’s Family Defends Against Trump Supporter Allegations

The man from Virginia, aged 30, who is facing charges for allegedly…
Opponents of Maine campus pro-life group invoke Charlie Kirk in social media threat : 'gotta be careful'

Maine Campus Pro-Life Group Faces Social Media Threats, Citing Charlie Kirk: ‘Gotta Be Careful

A group of students at the University of Southern Maine (USM) who…
FILE - Camper

Heart-Pounding 911 Calls Expose July 4th Floods: Stranded Residents Plead for Rescue from Attics and Cabins

In a heart-stopping moment on the Guadalupe River, a man clung desperately…
Mika Zibanejad keeps climbing Rangers' record books

Mika Zibanejad Continues Ascendancy in New York Rangers’ Historical Rankings

In his impressive 10th season with the New York Rangers, Mika Zibanejad…