By Abigail Philip David
An American Airlines flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome on Sunday following a bomb threat onboard.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 199 passengers and 15 crew members, was about two hours from its destination when it was rerouted over Turkmenistan due to a potential security threat.
According to the New York Post, American Airlines confirmed the diversion was prompted by a “possible security issue.”
Passenger Neeraj Chopra, who was traveling to India to visit family, described the tense moment when the captain announced the change in course.
“I felt a little panic of, OK, what’s going on here?” he said.
The Italian Air Force later confirmed the threat involved a possible bomb. Two Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets escorted the aircraft to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport, where it landed around 11:15 a.m. ET after nearly 15 hours in the air.
Upon landing, passengers were transported to buses for additional security screenings and had to wait more than two hours for their checked luggage.
American Airlines issued a statement thanking passengers for their patience, emphasizing that safety remains their top priority.
“We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops,” the airline stated.
This incident follows another bomb threat just two weeks ago on a Texas-bound American Airlines flight, which was delayed for several hours due to a suspicious Wi-Fi hotspot.
