American Airlines Pilot Flies Wrong 787 Aircraft to Italy

Fort Worth- An unexpected plane exchange swap American Airlines (AA) Philadelphia Flight AA780 (PHL) in Naples (NAP) to divert the air after making the Boeing 787-9 that he operated was not certified to land at Naples airport.

On June 2, 2025, the transatlantic flight, normally operated by a Boeing 787-8, had been upgraded to a larger 787-9 (N837an recording) for operational reasons. However, this apparently minor change had major consequences in the middle of the Core.

American Airlines 787-9 stands out for Rome

American Airlines Flight AA780 left Philadelphia (PHL) at 7:42 p.m. and crossed the Atlantic without incident.

But as the plane began its descent Naples (nap)the crew changed the course and redirected the flight to Rome Fimicino Airport (FCO)About 124 miles from its planned destination.

The reason was not linked to the weather, because the conditions in Naples were clear and no other theft had diverted.

According to a scoop by source of aviation @xjonnenyc and reported by OmaatThe Boeing 787-9 variant used that day was not allowed to land at Naples airport.

Why was the 787-9

The Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 are similar, but the main differences have probably triggered the restriction. The 787-9 is slightly longer, with a higher maximum take-off weight and different performance characteristics.

Naples Airport (NAP), nestled in difficult terrain, can have limits of track length, traffic lanes or deck that allow 787-8 But not the 787-9.

These restrictions are often fixed by the local aviation authorities to ensure the safety and operational feasibility.

Although the American probably neglected this during the exchange, the incident highlights the importance of verifying the compatibility of aircraft with destination airports.

Rapid response from American Airlines

After the unforeseen landing in Rome, American Airlines was faced with the logistical challenge of repositioning the planes and the crew.

The airline has already operated a Rome –Chicago (Ord) Road using a 787-8, which allows them to make a strategic exchange.

The entertained 787-9 was reassigned to the Rome-Chicago service, releasing a 787-8 (N880BJ recording) for the flight of Naples.

However, due to the limitations of the time of the crew service, the airline could not immediately continue the trip.

The 787-8 and its crew had one night in Rome and finished the short 38-minute hop in Naples the next day, June 4. The plane then returned to Philadelphia later in the afternoon.

It is not clear if the affected passengers were transported by plane from Rome to Naples the next day or reactive via other methods, such as trains or alternative flights.

Operational surveillance

The incident highlights the complexity of international flight operations and aircraft certifications.

Although the 787-9 is only marginally larger than the 787-8, these differences can have an impact on the compatibility of airports, especially in geographically constrained regions like Naples.

Whether surveillance comes from a ventilation of internal communications or has been triggered by nuanced local regulations, the case highlights the importance of aligning the assignments of aircraft on the airport’s operational authorizations.

The rapid adaptation of American Airlines minimized the global disturbance, but the deep cause raises questions on the procedural controls of the distribution of aircraft.

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