A Bengaluru airport staffer was arrested on Monday for sexually assaulting a South Korean tourist in the name of ‘manual frisking’, news agency ANI reported citing the Bengaluru airport police. According to the report, the official was arrested following a complaint from the victim. The incident comes mere weeks after an Air India Express pilot was arrested for ‘hitting’ a passenger at Delhi airport.
The official was reportedly detained and taken into custody following a complaint from the victim. Airport authorities clarified that the ground staff did not have any authority to physically check passengers. In case of any real suspicion, he would have had to alert immigration or CISF personnel and ensure frisking was conducted by authorised female officials. CCTV footage also reportedly corroborated the complaint, and a case was registered against him for sexual harassment.
Statement from AISATS
“An unpardonable incident was reported at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. The employee involved was immediately terminated and handed over to the authorities for further legal action. We deeply regret the emotional distress caused by the incident and have extended all necessary support to the guest. A comprehensive inquiry is underway to strengthen safeguards and prevent any recurrence. AISATS is fully cooperating with the authorities and remains committed to the highest standards of ethics, safety, and compliance,” an AISATS spokesperson told Financial Express.
‘Touched, hugged and thanked’ by attacker
The accused had reportedly approached the tourist soon after she had cleared security frisking and immigration checks. Mohammed Affann Ahmed identified himself as an airport staffer before checking her boarding pass and claiming that there was an issue with her checked-in baggage.
“During the ticket inspection, Affaann Ahmed said that a beeping sound was coming from the woman’s bag and asked her to be checked separately. He took the woman to the men’s toilet. There, he touched her inappropriately under the pretext of inspection,” KIAL Airport police said.
A report by the Times of India added that the South Korean woman had arrived in India on a tourist visa in November. She was returning to her home country when the incident took place within the international departure area of Terminal 2 on Monday morning. The complaint says the accused claimed that rechecking her luggage would take time and offered “manual frisking” as an alternative solution.
He had taken her near the men’s washroom and touched her chest multiple times under the guise of “manual frisking”. He had also asked her to turn around and touched her private parts. When the foreign national objected, the staffer had allegedly hugged and thanked her before asking the woman to leave.
“The woman complained to the airport security staff, who immediately detained the accused and handed him over to the airport police. The CCTV footage confirmed the same. The Kempegowda Airport Police have registered a case against the accused, and he has been arrested. Investigation is underway. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 75 of the BNS,” the airport police statement added.
Passenger ‘assaulted’ by Air India Express pilot
The incident also comes weeks after an off-duty Air India Express pilot was accused of thrashing a passenger at Delhi airport. The CISF said on Monday that it had submitted a report over the “misconduct” incident from December 2025. News agency PTI also quoted CISF Director General Praveer Ranjan as telling reporters that “action has been taken by the airline and police” in the matter.
Passenger Ankit Dewan had alleged that he was physically assaulted by Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal near the security area of Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport on December 19. He claimed the assault caused him to bleed and traumatised his seven-year-old daughter who witnessed the encounter. The accused was arrested by the police and later released on bail. The airline said the pilot had been removed from official duties pending an internal investigation.