Delhi-bound American Airlines flight diverted to Rome after bomb threat
What's the story
An American Airlines flight headed to New Delhi from New York's John F Kennedy International Airport was suddenly diverted to Rome on Sunday afternoon after a bomb threat.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which had 199 passengers and 15 crew members on board, made an unexpected U-turn over Turkmenistan due to this "possible security issue," the airline confirmed.
Italian Air Force fighter jets were then sent to escort the aircraft safely to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome.
Passenger ordeal
Passengers endure lengthy delay, undergo additional screenings
The aircraft landed safely at Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 5:22pm local time on Sunday.
However, passengers had to stay onboard for nearly 15 hours before they could disembark in Rome.
On arrival, they were subjected to further security checks inside the terminal building. Law enforcement officials later declared the bomb threat as non-credible after a thorough inspection of the aircraft.
Passenger accounts
Passengers recount experience, flight to remain in Rome
Passengers on the diverted flight recounted their experiences to the media.
"It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I've ever taken," passenger Jonathan Bacon told AP.
When they finally touched down at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, passengers had been stuck in the air for a total of 14 hours and 45 minutes.
Airline response
American Airlines emphasizes safety, thanks customers
He stated that once they arrived, all passengers were loaded onto buses with their bags and went through extra security procedures inside the terminal.
An American Airlines official said that Indian security protocols required an inspection before the aircraft could land in New Delhi.
The flight is now expected to remain overnight in Rome for crew rest before proceeding on its journey.