Delhi Police have registered a case against Air India Express pilot Virendra Sejwal after he was accused of assaulting a passenger at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1, ANI reported. The passenger, Ankit Dewan, shared a video of the incident on social media, and it went viral, sparking anger. The incident happened on Friday, during a routine security check at the airport. At the time, the pilot was off duty.
Fight at IGI Airport goes viral
According to ANI citing police officials, the case has been registered at the IGI Airport police station under Sections 115, 126 and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint was filed by Ankit Dewan himself, who said he was assaulted by the pilot during the security process.
According to the police complaint, Dewan was travelling with his family when the altercation took place. After the video surfaced online and began circulating widely, authorities took quick notice and started looking into the matter.
Pilot taken into custody
After initial investigation and scanning the viral video, police took the accused pilot into custody. According to ANI, citing officials, the pilot is being questioned further to understand exactly what led to the confrontation at the airport. The investigation is still ongoing, and police are examining all available evidence to establish the full sequence of events.
Meanwhile, On Monday, Ankit Dewan revealed a CT scan showing a displaced fracture of his left nasal bone. Speaking to ANI, Dewan said he had already submitted a detailed written complaint to the police. He added that he did not want to say much more at the moment, as his main focus was on recovering from his injuries. Dewan also said he hopes justice will be served in the case.
After the incident went viral online, the Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered an official inquiry. Soon after, Air India Express suspended pilot Virendra Sejwal from his duties. In a statement shared on social media platform X, Air India Express said it deeply regretted the incident and condemned the pilot’s alleged actions.
“Air India Express deeply regrets the incident involving one of its employees. The pilot has been removed from official duties, and the airline is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough investigation,” the airline said.
Police have said that further legal action will depend on the outcome of the investigation and the medical reports related to Dewan’s injuries.
