Delhi Airport incident: Air India Express pilot suspended over alleged assault
Delhi Airport incident: Air India Express pilot suspended over alleged assault
Air India Express suspends an off-duty captain after an altercation with a passenger at Delhi's Terminal 1; an external inquiry panel will probe the incident.
An off-duty Air India Express captain is at the center of a high-profile incident at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, following allegations of assault on a passenger during a security-check queue on December 19, 2025. The airline swiftly suspended the pilot and issued a show-cause notice, with the proceedings under labour laws since pilots fall under the workmen category. An external inquiry panel is expected to be formed next week to investigate the matter, while the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed authorities to ground the pilot with immediate effect.
The passenger, identified as Ankit Dewan, shared his account on social media, including a photo showing blood on his face and another image of the pilot, Virender Sejwal. Dewan said the altercation began over the security queue and escalated quickly; he was traveling with his family, which included a four-month-old infant, when the incident occurred at Terminal 1. The airline stated it unequivocally condemns such behavior and confirmed the employee had been removed from official duties pending investigation. It also noted that disciplinary action would follow based on the inquiry’s findings.
The pilot’s side has surfaced through media briefings, with Sejwal claiming the passenger allegedly made casteist remarks and threatened his family, including a female relative. In social-media posts and reports, there are references to a remark by the pilot that he would “maark ke aata hu” (I’ll come back after hitting him), directed at security personnel. The incident prompted the ministry to seek detailed reports from the BCAS and CISF and to ground the pilot while the external inquiry proceeds.
This episode highlights ongoing concerns about airport-ground safety and conduct among travelers and airline staff. With an external committee planned and government authorities involved, the case is likely to attract close public and regulatory scrutiny as investigators determine what happened and what consequences are warranted.
