American Airlines Flight to New Delhi Diverts to Rome After Bomb Threat
An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome on Sunday following a bomb threat, according to airport sources and flight tracking reports.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carrying 199 passengers and crew turned around mid-flight over the Caspian Sea before safely landing at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at approximately 16:20 GMT. Security personnel immediately inspected the aircraft while passengers underwent additional screenings.
A U.S. official briefed on the incident later told ABC News that the bomb threat, received via email, was ultimately deemed unfounded. American Airlines confirmed that the plane was cleared for departure but would remain in Rome overnight for crew rest before continuing to New Delhi on Monday.
Passengers described a calm atmosphere initially, though tension rose when the pilot announced that fighter jets would escort the plane to Rome.
“It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” said passenger Jonathan Bacon, who tracked the flight’s sharp turn away from New Delhi.
Despite the security scare, airport operations continued as normal, officials confirmed.
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