An American Airlines flight departed from JFK Airport in New York City. It was originally heading to Delhi, India but it was diverted and escorted by fighter jets and landed in Rome. Reportedly, the flight had to be diverted due to a bomb threat.
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According to the Daily Mail, American Airlines Flight 292 was flying over the Caspian Sea near Turkmenistan when it had to divert to Rome. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamlinerm which carried approximately 200 passengers, landed at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport at around 4:20 p.m. GMT. The flight originally departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday around 8:·30 p.m. ET.
Two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jets scored the American Airlines plane out of the sky. American Airlines stated that the U-turn made by the plane was due to a "possible security issue," according to a statement shared with media outlets, including the New York Post.
"Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding," reads the statement. "We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops."
Bomb Threat
Flight Radar 24, however, named that "security issue" as a bomb threat on Sunday morning.
"American Airlines flight #AA292 from New York to Delhi made a U-turn over the Caspian Sea and diverted all the way to Rome, following a bomb threat for the flight," reads their post made on X.
According to ABC News, a senior official confirmed that they received a bomb threat through email. They deemed the threat unfounded. However, the outlet reports that Indian authorities demanded a full plane check before the flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Footage of the plane's landing surfaced online, as the large aircraft arrived at the Fiumicino airport, escorted by the two jets. In total, there were 199 passengers on the plane alongside 15 crew members, according to a Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport spokesman. Authorities will screen all passengers and check the plane.
"If all the checks are OK, the plane will take off for its final destination tomorrow," Roberto Rao, an airport spokesman told NBC News. "The passengers will spend the night in Rome."
