“I felt a little panic of, OK, what’s going on here?” said passenger Neeraj Chopra, who was traveling from Detroit to visit family in India.
Italian Military Jets Escort the Flight
The Italian Air Force later confirmed that the diversion was due to a possible bomb on board. Stunning images shared on social media showed the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner being escorted by two Italian Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes.
Passengers were in the air for a total of 14 hours and 45 minutes before finally landing at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
“It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” said Jonathan Bacon, 22, from Dayton, Ohio.
Upon landing, passengers were transported by bus, underwent additional security screenings, and faced extended waits for their luggage.
American Airlines Responds
“Safety and security are our top priorities, and we thank our customers for their understanding,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops.”
