An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Italy on Sunday, February 23, following a bomb threat, according to airport sources and Flight Emergency.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was flying over the Caspian Sea when the crew was alerted to the potential threat, prompting a diversion to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. The aircraft landed safely at 16:20 GMT, and all 199 passengers and crew disembarked for security checks.
Authorities later determined the threat, received via email, to be unfounded. American Airlines confirmed that the plane was inspected and cleared but would remain in Rome overnight for crew rest before continuing to New Delhi.
Passengers described moments of anxiety, particularly after the captain announced that fighter jets would escort the aircraft. Security screenings delayed baggage retrieval, but airport operations remained unaffected.