A day after an Air India Express pilot was accused of physically assaulting a passenger at Delhi airport, the pilot’s legal team has issued a statement on the incident. According to multiple reports, the statement claimed that the incident was a personal matter between two passengers and not related to his professional role.
Captain Virender Sejwal said reports had “misrepresented a personal incident” by portraying it as a “pilot versus passenger” dispute. The statement further said Sejwal was travelling as a passenger at the time and was not on flight duty. “The incident was not connected in any manner to his professional responsibilities. It was a purely personal matter between two passengers,” it said.
‘Misrepresentation of facts’
The statement reported by multiple media outlets claimed that social media outrage was based on a “one-sided, incomplete misrepresentation of facts”. It alleged that passenger Ankit Dewan had selectively presented events to create a false narrative and that casteist remarks were made against Sejwal. According to the pilot, threats were directed at female members of his family, including a child, Moneycontrol reported.
Dewan has alleged that Sejwal assaulted him at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport after a disagreement over access to a priority security lane. Dewan said he was travelling with his family, including his four-month-old in a stroller and was directed by airport staff to use the priority queue meant for crew and families with infants. He has claimed that Sejwal jumped the queue, leading to a confrontation in which he was allegedly beaten.
Pilot’s version of incident
Sejwal’s statement rejected the passenger’s version alleging that Dewan initiated the confrontation by verbally abusing him without provocation and continued using abusive and threatening language despite repeated warnings. It said both men sustained injuries during the scuffle and that personnel of the CISF intervened promptly.
The statement also denied Dewan’s claim that he was coerced into signing a letter agreeing not to pursue the matter. According to Sejwal’s legal team, both parties voluntarily signed statements in the presence of CISF officials confirming that they did not wish to file formal complaints. The statement added that the CISF had publicly said both individuals were offered the option to lodge complaints, which they declined, NDTV reported.
Sejwal’s lawyers criticised attempts to link the incident to Air India Express, saying it was unrelated to his employment and accusing some of seeking social media attention over what they described as a settled issue. The statement said Sejwal had full faith in the authorities to examine the matter impartially and urged the public and media to rely on verified facts.
Earlier, Air India Express said it “unequivocally condemns such behaviour” and confirmed that the pilot had been removed from duty pending an internal investigation. The airline said appropriate disciplinary action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
Note: Financialexpress.com has not accessed the copy of the said statement. This article is based on reports from multiple media outlets.