American Airlines flight diverted due to bomb threat

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N840AN (MSN 40656)

An American Airlines flight en route from New York (JFK/KJFK) to New Delhi (DEL/VIDP) was diverted to Rome (FCO/LIRF) on Sunday following a bomb threat, according to a source familiar with the situation.

In a statement, American Airlines said 

"Flight AA292 was traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport before it diverted to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport “due to a possible security issue," adding later that it "was determined to be non-credible." Per Indira Gandhi International Airport's protocol, a thorough inspection was required before the plane landed

The bomb threat against the flight was sent via email, according to source familiar with the situation. The Federal Aviation Administration reported the crew had identified the security issue.

“Safety and security are our top priorities, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” the airline said in a statement.

Flight AA292 requested a flight diversion to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport at around 2 p.m. local time, said Roberto Rao, a spokesperson for the airport.

“We immediately agreed and organized a safe landing,” Rao told the news. “We don’t know what the security concern was, but my opinion is that it was serious enough to divert the plane, but not urgent, because we received the alert when the plane was over the Caspian Sea, a three hours’ flight from Rome.”

The American Airlines plane was escorted by two Italian Air Force fighter jets upon entering Italian airspace, according to Rao, and landed in Rome at 5:30 p.m. local time as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration

Aircraft Information:

Airline: American Airlines

Code: AA/AAL

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: N840AN

Serial Number: 40656

Engines: 2 x Genx-1b74/75/P1

First Flew: 8th January 2019

Age: 6.1 Years