Flight carrying American Airlines from New York to New Delhi securely touches down in Rome due to security scrutiny.
American Airlines' Flight 292, en route from New York to New Delhi, had an unexpected stopover at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome. This unexpected landing was prompted by a security concern, but the airline wasn't forthcoming about the exact nature of this concern[3]. However, they did mention that a mandatory inspection, part of the protocol before landing in New Delhi, was necessary[3].
The airline assured passengers that the flight would rest in Rome for the night so that the crew could get their necessary rest, with the trip to New Delhi resuming as soon as feasible the next day[3]. Just before Flight 292's unscheduled landing, an Associated Press reporter captured images of two fighter jets flying overhead the airport, and fire trucks were spotted on the runway nearby[1].
Neeraj Chopra, one of the passengers on board, shared that the captain announced a turnaround approximately three hours before the scheduled arrival in New Delhi because of a change in the "security status"[1]. At first, the mood on the plane remained calm, but whispers of anxiety started circulating when the captain informed passengers about the fighter jets escorting them to Rome[1]. Chopra, traveling from Detroit to visit family, described this experience as nerve-wracking[1].
Passenger Jonathan Bacon, 22, from Dayton, Ohio, kept a close eye on the flight tracker taking note of the sharp detour away from New Delhi and back towards Rome after the captain announced a "diversion due to a security issue"[2]. Bacon notified that most passengers had limited internet connectivity throughout the flight, with only occasional access that came with incomplete updates about two hours before landing[2].
After landing, passengers found themselves boarding buses and undergoing additional security screenings at the terminal, which they described as slow-going and somewhat heightened[2]. Bacon also mentioned that it took more than two hours for his checked baggage to clear security screenings before he and his travel companion could finally collect it[2].
Ever the optimist, Bacon labeled this experience as "the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken"[2]. The spokesperson for the airport reassured the public that operations were running as usual.
As for the precise cause of the security concern that forced Flight 292 to deviate, the airline remained tight-lipped about it[1]. Nonetheless, after conducting a thorough inspection by law enforcement, the security concern was ultimately deemed "non-credible," paving the way for the flight's departure to New Delhi[1][2].
After the unexpected landing in Rome, Neeraj Chopra, a passenger on the flight, expressed his nerves about the sudden change in the "security status"[1]. The airline organized additional screenings for the passengers after they landed, which were described as slow and heightened[2]. Despite the detour and extended layover, Jonathan Bacon from Dayton, Ohio, maintained a positive outlook, labeling the experience as the "longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken"[2].
