Some travelers headed to Naples, Italy, on an American Airlines flight from the US were surprised to find themselves landing in Rome instead, about 140 miles away.
The reason? Their plane was too big for Naples Airport to handle.
On Monday, June 2, American Airlines Flight 780 departed from Philadelphia International Airport at 7:42 pm.
It was scheduled to land in Naples around 10 am the next day. However, the plane changed course over the Tyrrhenian Sea and landed at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) just before 9:45 a.m.
An American Airlines spokesperson stated that the plane was diverted due to operational constraints.
According to USA Today, the flight was operated using a Boeing 787 9 Dreamliner, a larger aircraft roughly 20 feet longer than the Boeing 787 8 typically used on this route.
Both jets have the same wingspan, but the 787-9 carries more passengers and has stricter safety requirements when landing.
Passengers on an American Airlines flight from the United States to Italy were forced to take a bus to their final destination after their aircraft was forced to land 140 miles away because it was too big to land at the original destination. https://t.co/LHXPI1bzHQ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 8, 2025
Read more: Air Traffic Control Orders American Airlines Flight to Abort Landing at Washington National
Bigger Jet Causes American Airlines Flight to Miss Naples Landing
The problem appears to be linked to rescue and firefighting services (RFFS), which are essential in the event of emergencies.
Rome's airport now meets the Category 9 Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) level required to handle the Boeing 787-9.
However, Naples only meets Category 8, which is suitable for the smaller 787-8. That means the bigger plane couldn't land there safely.
The flight carried a total of 231 passengers and 11 crew members.
After landing in Rome, American Airlines arranged for buses to take passengers to Naples, CBS News said. The journey typically takes between two and three hours by car.
"Customers traveled from FCO to NAP by bus, and we apologize to them for this disruption to their journey," American Airlines said in a statement to CBS News and USA TODAY.
It remains unclear why the airline chose to use the larger plane, knowing the landing requirements in Naples.
Historical data from FlightAware indicate that the airline typically uses the smaller Boeing 787 Dreamliner for this international route.
Although no one was hurt, the mix-up added several unexpected hours to passengers' travels. The airline has not yet said whether any compensation will be offered.
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