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
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Legendary coach calls out anti-Israel protesters' silence on Iran

Legendary Coach Challenges Anti-Israel Protesters: Unmasking the Hypocrisy on Iran Silence

Fox News’ “Antisemitism Exposed” newsletter delivers insights into the escalating anti-Jewish sentiment…
'Sinners' makes history, setting Oscars nomination record

Record-Breaking Milestone: ‘Sinners’ Shatters Oscars Nomination History

Ryan Coogler’s enthralling vampire saga, “Sinners,” has swept the board at the…
Trump describes moment that resulted in severe bruise on hand

Trump Details Incident Leading to Significant Hand Bruise

President Donald Trump recently disclosed the cause behind a noticeable bruise on…
Blake Lively and costar unload on Justin Baldoni in unsealed texts

Blake Lively and Co-Star’s Revealing Texts Criticize Justin Baldoni: Unsealed Messages Stir Hollywood Buzz

Blake Lively and her co-star Brandon Sklenar seem to criticize director and…
Elon Musk's Greenland jokes fall flat at Davos, unveils plan to sell robots

Elon Musk’s Davos Appearance: Greenland Jokes Miss the Mark, But Robotic Sales Pitch Steals the Show

Elon Musk made an unanticipated entrance at the World Economic Conference on…
South Shore immigration raid in Chicago under new investigation by Illinois Department of Human Rights

Illinois Department of Human Rights Launches Investigation into South Shore Immigration Raid in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities have launched a fresh probe into a contentious…
Armed husband confronts suspected Florida kidnapper after wife is followed home

Florida Woman’s Pursuer Faces Armed Confrontation from Her Husband in Alleged Kidnapping Attempt

Authorities in Florida have deemed an incident where a local man shot…
Victoria Beckham's solo song shoots up the charts amid Brooklyn feud

Victoria Beckham’s Latest Solo Hit Climbs the Charts Amid Family Drama

Victoria Beckham has achieved her first solo number one hit, thanks to…