An American Airlines flight was diverted from its New York City to New Delhi route after a “security concern” prompted the Italian Air Force to escort it. The flight, AA 292, landed safely in Rome on Sunday afternoon, with nearly 200 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
According to the airline, the security concern was later deemed non-credible, and an inspection by law enforcement in Rome cleared the plane for landing at Delhi Airport. Captain alerted passengers about three hours before they were due to land that the flight needed to turn around, citing a change in “security status.”
The cause of the initial security concern remains unknown, but the airline stressed that safety and security are its top priorities. The flight will stay overnight in Rome for required crew rest before continuing to Delhi as soon as possible tomorrow.
This incident comes after a series of aviation disasters in the US, including a fatal collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter near Washington National Airport, and a medical ambulance flight crash in Philadelphia that killed seven people.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/video-shows-italian-fighter-jets-escorting-american-airlines-flight-rome-amid-security-concern