THIS is the terrifying moment two fighter jets escort an American Airlines flight after a mid-air bomb threat was received.
A flight from JFK Airport in New York City heading to New Delhi, India, had to turn back and land in Rome due to a potential security concern, as reported by the airline.
American Airlines confirmed Flight 292’s ordeal on Sunday, where the plane was flying near Turkmenistan when a bomb threat was received.
Footage captured of the gargantuan jet shows it flying between two fighter jets before landing at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
In a different scene, a group of onlookers observed in shock as the plane touched down on the runway with military fighter jets in pursuit.
The aircraft had taken off around 8:30 pm on Saturday and was flying over the Caspian Sea when the airline reportedly alerted the crew to a bomb threat.
It was eventually grounded in Rome, Italy, around three hours after departure time due to a bomb threat that was received by email, ABC reports.
The terrifying concern was later determined as being “non-credible,” the airline said.
A senior official told ABC that Indian authorities requested the aircraft be checked prior to landing in New Delhi.
Spokesperson for the airport Francesco Garibaldi didn’t give the specific reason for the diversion but said that security checks would be performed as soon as all the passengers and crew got off the aircraft.
Italian law enforcement checked and cleared the aircraft to re-depart, according to American Airlines.
And passengers are to stay overnight so the crew can rest before they head off to New Delhi on Monday.
One passenger who was onboard the flight during the incident, Yash Raj, said on X that everyone “safely deboarded the aircraft”.
He said: “Huge credit to the cabin crew for handling the situation so well.
“Everyone in the aircraft was calm.”
American Airlines said: “Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding.
“We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops.”
American Airlines is still reeling from when its jet collided with a helicopter over Washington DC – despite it being a clear night.
A catalogue of errors, including staffing issues and the use of the wrong flight path, could be to blame for the crash
New Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted the crash that killed 67 people was “absolutely” preventable.
Black boxes that could hold crucial clues about what caused the crash have been dredged up from the plane wreckage in the Potomac River.
