Air India Express Pilot Arrested After Assaulting Passenger at Delhi Airport

The police arrested Air India Express pilot Captain Virender Sejwal on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a passenger at Delhi airport on December 19. Sejwal, who was off duty at the time, reportedly attacked Ankit Dewan, who later posted a photo on social media showing his injured face. Dewan claimed that Sejwal assaulted him in front of his seven-year-old daughter, leaving her traumatised.

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Police detained Sejwal for questioning on Monday after an inquiry. They gathered evidence from the airport and security agencies before arresting him following the interrogation. Last week, police approached airport authorities, collected CCTV footage showing the assault, and sent Dewan for a medical examination, which revealed a nasal fracture, bruises, and other injuries. They also took statements from the airport security staff, who were the first to intervene. Deputy Police Commissioner Vichitra Veer confirmed that police have already recorded Dewan’s statement.

Air India Express Pilot Suspended After Alleged Assault at Delhi Airport

Dewan stated that staff asked them to use the staff security check area because they had their four-month-old baby with them. He mentioned that staff members, including Sejwal, cut the queue ahead of him. When Dewan pointed this out, Sejwal asked if he was uneducated and couldn’t read the signs indicating the area was for staff. Air India Express suspended Sejwal while police received two cross-complaints. Sejwal accused Dewan of starting the altercation by verbally abusing him without provocation, using degrading and threatening language, and claimed he too sustained injuries. Police charged Sejwal under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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