Security officials were alerted after an airport security screener worker at the end of his shift told a supervisor he had second thoughts about the man, who resembled a suspected terrorist on a list distributed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He only voiced his concerns after the Boeing-747, which originated in Bombay, had taken off.
The watch lists include names of suspected terrorists or people who may have information that might help an anti-terrorist investigation.
The flight, carrying 378 passengers and 19 crew, landed safely at New York's John F Kennedy airport shortly before 10pm. Police and fire workers met the plane while FBI and immigration officials were standing by to interview the man.
There appeared to be no evidence that the man was on the list. "No one here is getting excited about this," an FBI spokesman said. "In an abundance of caution we will have agents meeting the flight."
The Canadian F-18 fighter jets followed the flight from a distance, so as not to alert passengers to their presence and potentially cause a panic.
Air India said there had been no incidents during the flight. Federal aviation authorities were in contact with the crew during the flight and they were said to have been calm. The pilot and co-pilot were in a reinforced cockpit.
The Heathrow security screener was last night being interviewed by British officials.
