Newsman: An American Airlines Flight 292 traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to New Delhi was diverted to Rome on Sunday due to a possible security threat, according to airline and Italian airport officials.
Officials at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport said they conducted security checks on the plane as well as the 199 passengers and 15 crew members of the flight following a request from the airline. The security threat was lifted shortly after 9:00 p.m. local time, according to the airport.
The flight was scheduled to remain in Rome overnight to allow for required crew rest, the airline confirmed to USA TODAY Sunday.
The airport said that those on the flight who are cleared to enter Europe have been taken to nearby hotels, while those who are not have been taken to designated airport lounges.
The flight was diverted due to a “suspected bomb threat,” according to airline and Italian airport officials.
American Airlines in a statement to USA TODAY Sunday said that the issue was determined to be “non-credible,” but Indira Gandhi International Airport protocol required an inspection.
The handout picture taken and released by the Italian Air Force – Aeronautica Militare on Feb. 23, 2025, shows an American Airlines flight escorted by a Eurofighter from the Italian Air Forc following an “alleged bomb scare,” an Italian airport spokesman said.
The Associated Press reported that two fighter jets flew over the airport before the landing. The airport noted that law enforcement and fire personnel were on the tarmac after the plane landed, per protocol.
“Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding,” American Airlines said in the statement.
