Delhi Airport Altercation: FIR Filed Against Off-Duty Pilot
Delhi Airport Altercation: FIR Filed Against Off-Duty Pilot
Delhi police file FIR against off-duty Air India Express pilot after a confrontation at IGI; airline suspends him as video of the incident goes viral.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against off-duty Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal after a confrontation with passenger Ankit Dewan at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 1. The complainant alleges the pilot assaulted him near the security area on December 19. A video of the incident went viral, prompting swift action by authorities. The FIR, filed at IGI Airport police station, cites sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Air India Express has suspended Sejwal from official duties, and the aviation ministry has ordered an inquiry to investigate the incident. The airline released a statement condemning the behaviour and pledging full cooperation with investigators.
Dewan said the altercation began after he objected to staff cutting the queue at the security checkpoint; he told reporters he was left bleeding and that the incident traumatised his seven-year-old daughter. He later claimed a CT scan showed a displaced fracture of the left nasal bone. The case drew widespread public attention as the video circulated online.
The pilot’s lawyer stated the incident occurred in a personal capacity and was misrepresented on social media, insisting the two parties reportedly signed a written statement agreeing not to pursue legal action and that Sejwal was traveling as a passenger, not on duty. The lawyer argued that media portrayals distorted the facts and turned a private matter into a professional row.
Authorities continue to question witnesses and examine footage as the investigation proceeds. The episode has renewed scrutiny on airline conduct, passenger safety, and how social media can shape narratives in real time.
