An American Airlines plane traveling from New York to New Delhi, India, landed safely in Rome on Sunday afternoon after being diverted due to a security concern that later turned out to be unfounded.
According to the airline, flight AA292 was inspected by law enforcement after landing at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and was authorized to resume, writes A2 CNN.
While no specific explanation was given for the cause of the safety concern, American Airlines stressed that the inspection was a protocol requirement before the plane could land in New Delhi. “The aircraft will remain in Rome overnight to allow the crew necessary rest before continuing as soon as possible on Monday,” the airline said.
The Italian Air Force sent two military aircraft to escort the passenger plane to the airport, while firefighting vehicles were present on the runway.
Neeraj Chopra, a passenger on board, said the captain announced the flight diversion about three hours before they were due to arrive in New Delhi, due to a change in the “security status.” He described the atmosphere on the plane as calm at first, but tension rose after it was announced that the plane would be escorted by fighter jets.
Another passenger, Jonathan Bacon, 22, noticed a sudden deviation in the itinerary on the screen in the seat in front of him. After landing, the passengers were transported by buses to the terminal, where they and their luggage were subjected to thorough security checks.
Meanwhile, the airport in Rome continued to operate normally. (A2 Televizion)
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