American Airlines is set to operate a flight from Rome to Delhi on Tuesday to bring back passengers stranded after flight AA292 from New York was diverted to Rome due to a suspected bomb threat. The flight, escorted by Italian Air Force jets, landed safely on February 23. Flight AA9603 is scheduled for departure at 12 pm local time on February 25. Following the threat, a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was established at Delhi airport. Passengers with valid European entry visas were relocated to hotels, while others were accommodated in airport lounges, as confirmed by airport officials.
New Delhi:
American Airlines is expected to operate a flight from Rome to Delhi on Tuesday to transport passengers who were stranded in the Italian capital after their flight from New York to the Indian city was diverted on Sunday due to a suspected bomb threat.
The New York-Delhi flight AA292 encountered a threat and was redirected to Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome, where Italian Air Force fighter jets escorted the aircraft on Sunday evening. Fortunately, the flight landed safely.
As per the airport’s website, American Airlines flight AA9603 is set to depart for Delhi at 12 pm local time on February 25.
Previously, flight AA292 was planned to leave for Delhi at 2 pm local time on Monday, but it was cancelled according to the website.
A source indicated that the flight from Rome to Delhi would not be taking off on Monday.
Sources familiar with the situation reported that a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was quickly established at Delhi airport as soon as the threat message regarding flight AA292 was received on Sunday (February 23).
The committee required the aircraft to be inspected at the nearest airport before being diverted to Rome for the necessary evaluations, they added.
No further details have been confirmed.
On Sunday, American Airlines released a statement indicating that flight AA292 was redirected to Rome due to a “possible security concern”.
The airline also noted that the potential issue was assessed to be non-credible, but according to Delhi airport protocol, an inspection was mandatory before landing in Delhi.
Earlier on Monday, Federica Pistola, a spokesperson for Leonardo Da Vinci Airport and Head of Landside Operations, stated in a video message that among the passengers on the diverted flight, those with valid passports for entering European territory were relocated to hotels.
Passengers lacking a visa or passport allowing entry into European territory were accommodated in available lounges within the airport, she mentioned in her message shared with PTI.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, the flight was diverted following a request from American Airlines for security checks related to a “suspected bomb threat”.
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