American Airlines 787-9 Escorted To Rome By Fighter Jets After Bomb Threat Onboard
An American Airlines 787-9 bound for Delhi, India turned around en route and diverted Rome–escorted by fighter jets–after a bomb threat onboard.
India-Bound American Airlines 787-9 Diverts To Rome After Bomb Threat
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, AA292 from New York (JFK) to New Delhi (DEL) departed on time from New York. The 14-hour flight was without incident for the first 10 hours, but suddenly made a U-turn while flying over the Caspian Sea.
As the aircraft reached Italian airspace, it was escorted back to Rome by Italian Eurofighter Typhoons.
#Scramble: nel pomeriggio due #Eurofighter dell’#AeronauticaMilitare sono decollati su allarme per identificare e scortare un aereo di linea diretto a Delhi che aveva invertito rotta verso l’aeroporto di Fiumicino (RM) per una segnalazione di un presunto ordigno esplosivo a bordo pic.twitter.com/qocq43lC6H
— Aeronautica Militare (@ItalianAirForce) February 23, 2025
It turns out a bomb threat was made against the flight, though it is not clear if the threat was made onboard or on the ground. Jon NYC reported the threat specifically alleging that the bomb would detonate when the aircraft descended to 10,000 feet:
RUMOR tells me: threat was made that a bomb would be set off just under 10,000 feet on approach to Delhi airport
RUMOR https://t.co/dcmCPzGoDk— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) February 23, 2025
The flight landed at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at 5:28 pm local time, 14 hours and 45 minutes after taking off from New York.
Friends deplaning from AA292 in Rome earlier today after a bomb threat was made over the Caspian Sea. The flight landed while escorted by Italian fighter jets. American airlines 292 is safely on the ground all passengers safe. pic.twitter.com/sXgUAB53iK
— Herbert Hildebrandt (@herberandt) February 23, 2025
A close inspection of the aircraft revealed no bomb onboard: Italian authorities closely inspected the aircraft upon landing at FCO.
American Airlines said:
“AA 292, operating from New York to Delhi, has been diverted to Rome due to a potential security threat onboard. We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our passengers.”
The flight will continue to Delhi today after the crew has had time to rest.
Bomb Threats A Regular Occurrence On India Flights
Over 1,000 bomb threats were called in over the year on flights to or from India, a problem that cannot be reduced to the Sikh separatist movement or Pakistan or juvenile pranksters.
While US carriers typically handle bomb threats differently than Indian carriers (a simple bomb threat will not necessarily lead to a diversion), it appears the bomb threat on AA292 was specific enough in nature to warrant the pricey diversion.
As I argued in a previous story, one response to the uptick in bomb threats could be to more harshly punish those who make such threats (20 years in a penal colony?). Another alternative could be carefully checking every plane before it departs beyond just a visual search and baggage screening. Both are annoyances, but perhpas better than a diversion?
CONCLUSION
It took 14.5 hours for an American Airlines 787-9 to fly from New York to Rome after a bomb threat was called onboard. The flight never reached Dehli on Sunday, but should reach the Indian capital later today.
image: @ItalianAirForce / X