American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Rome After Bomb Threat (Videos)
An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi made an emergency landing in Rome on March 23, 2025, due to a bomb threat later deemed not credible. The aircraft, carrying 199 passengers, was escorted by Italian fighter jets. Security protocols were followed, ensuring passenger safety during the incident.
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Rome, March 23, 2025, 2:00 PM PDT – An American Airlines flight en route from New York to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome on Sunday following a bomb threat, which was later deemed non-credible. The incident at Fiumicino Airport, confirmed by the airport authority, involved flight AA292, a Boeing carrying 199 passengers, escorted by two Italian Air Force fighter jets, as reported by ABC News (web ID: 0) and shared on X by @FlightEmergency.
Breaking: American Airlines Flight AA292, traveling from New York (JFK) to New Delhi (DEL), has made an emergency diversion to Rome following a reported threat. The aircraft is currently being escorted by Eurofighter jets as it approaches the airport. pic.twitter.com/q4DzpURjGc — Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) February 23, 2025
Details of the Incident
? New footage released by the Italian Air Force shows American Airlines flight AA292 being escorted by Eurofighters as it diverts to Rome Fiumicino due to a reported bomb threat. The flight was en route from New York JFK to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/yyNOAvZ1d7 — Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) February 23, 2025
American Airlines stated, “Flight AA292 was diverted to Rome due to a possible security issue,” confirming the plane landed safely at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, per NBC News (web ID: 1). The threat, received via email, prompted the diversion as a precautionary measure, though it was later determined to be unfounded, per a senior official cited by ABC News. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted the crew reported the security issue, per Sky News (web ID: 2).
Passenger Mahesh Kumar, an IT consultant, told AFP, “The pilot announced a change in trajectory about three hours before landing, citing security reasons.” He added, “Everyone was scared. There was total silence, and we followed the crew’s instructions strictly,” noting passengers were ordered to remain seated while Italian fighter jets escorted the plane, as seen in videos on X by @AeronauticaMilitare.
Security Protocols and Response
A strict security protocol was enacted, with Italian law enforcement inspecting the aircraft before clearing it for departure, per American Airlines. A company official, speaking anonymously, explained that despite the threat being non-credible, New Delhi’s airport security protocol required a pre-landing inspection, necessitating the diversion, per NBC News (web ID: 1). The airline apologized to passengers, noting the plane would remain in Rome until Monday to allow the crew to rest, per Hindustan Times (web ID: 3).
Fiumicino Airport operations were unaffected, per airport spokesperson Rao cited by NBC News. Videos on X, such as @ItalianAirForce’s, showed the Eurofighter jets escorting the Boeing 787-9, which landed around 5:30 PM local time, per Sky News.
American Airlines’ Global Reach
Founded nearly a century ago, American Airlines serves over 60 countries through partnerships, operating flights like AA292 from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport, per aa.com. The incident underscores the airline’s commitment to safety, as emphasized in its statement: “Safety and security are our top priorities,” per ABC News.
As of 2:00 PM PDT, the flight remains grounded in Rome, with passengers awaiting the rescheduled departure, highlighting the aviation industry’s stringent response to security threats.
