Leo DiCaprio Safe Following Diverted Flight

First Published: November 22, 2010 1:41 PM EST Credit: Getty Images

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Caption Leonardo DiCaprio attends the “Inception” press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan on July 21, 2010 Academy Award nominated actor Leonardo DiCaprio is safe following a flight scare heading from New York City to Moscow on Sunday.

In a statement issued to Access Hollywood by his rep, DiCaprio “wishes to commend the actions of the pilot and flight crew in bringing the plane to a safe landing.” Us Weekly was the first to report the news that Leo was on board the flight.

Further, a source tells Access that Leo signed autographs for crew and passengers from the flight when the plane landed.

According to The New York Times, the Delta flight returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport following reports that the plane was on fire after the pilot complained of engine problems. When the Boeing 767 returned to the airport, authorities reported that there was no fire. Close to 100 firefighters and other rescue personnel were reportedly on site to assist.

“We were prepared to handle a plane returning to J.F.K. with reports of engine problems,” a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told The Times.

The plane, which had 193 passengers and 11 crew members, had taken off at 4:39 PM, and landed at about 6 PM. It reportedly dumped much of its fuel before landing.

Delta reportedly put the passengers on a new flight scheduled for 8 PM.

Leo was reportedly on his way to attend the Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg sponsored by the Global Tiger Initiative, a conference lead by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss the problem of tiger extinction.

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