An American Airlines flight travelling from JFK Airport to Delhi was forced to divert to Rome on Sunday after a bomb threat was made on board.
The flight, which had 199 passengers and 15 crew members, had been two hours from its destination when it was rerouted over the Central Asian country of Turkmenistan.
According to the New York Post, the airline confirmed the diversion was due to a “possible security issue.”
Passenger Neeraj Chopra, who was on his way to visit family in India, recalled the moment of uncertainty when the captain announced the diversion.
“I felt a little panic of, OK, what’s going on here?” he said.
The Italian Air Force later confirmed the threat was related to a possible bomb on board.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which had been en route for the 14-hour flight, was escorted by two Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
After nearly 15 hours in the air, the flight landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport around 11:15 a.m. ET, where passengers were transported to buses for additional security screenings. They waited for over two hours for their checked luggage after landing.
American Airlines issued a statement thanking passengers for their understanding, emphasising that safety and security remained their top priorities. The airline added that they were working closely with local authorities to resolve the situation.
“Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding.
“We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops,” American Airlines said as reported by New York Post.
This incident comes just two weeks after another American Airlines flight was delayed for several hours due to a bomb threat involving a Wi-Fi hotspot on a Texas-bound plane.
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