Air India Express Pilot Arrested, Secures Bail After Indira Gandhi Airport Altercation

December 30, 2025 at 03:14 PM•3 min read

Air India Express pilot, Captain Virendra Sejwal, was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly assaulting a passenger at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), then secured bail.

Key Points

1Delhi Police arrested Air India Express Captain Virendra Sejwal on December 30, 2025, following a December 19 passenger assault allegation.
2The pilot was released on bail shortly after arrest because the BNS charges (Sections 115, 126, 351) were classified as bailable offenses.
3Air India Express immediately removed the off-duty pilot from flying duties pending the outcome of an internal inquiry and a formal probe ordered by the MoCA.
4The altercation at IGI Terminal 1 reportedly began when the passenger objected to airline staff allegedly jumping the security checkpoint queue.

An off-duty Air India Express pilot was arrested. The arrest followed an alleged assault on a passenger. This incident occurred at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi. Captain Virendra Sejwal was later released on bail. The charges filed against him were bailable offenses.

Incident and Police Action

Delhi Police confirmed the arrest on Tuesday. The incident took place near Terminal 1's security checkpoint. This was on December 19, according to reports. The passenger, Ankit Dewan, filed the complaint. He claimed the Air India Express pilot assaulted him. The dispute allegedly started over airline staff queue jumping. Dewan reported a displaced fracture of his nasal bone.

The police collected relevant CCTV footage. Statements from all relevant people were recorded. Sejwal was booked under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Sections 115, 126, and 351 were applied. These sections cover voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful restraint. Police stated the offenses were bailable. Therefore, the accused secured bail at the police station.

Airline Response and Regulatory Oversight

Air India Express confirmed awareness of the airport assault case. The airline stated the employee was traveling on another carrier. The off-duty pilot was immediately removed from official duties. This suspension is pending an internal airline inquiry. Air India Express condemned the reported behavior. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) ordered a formal probe. They directed the airline to ground the pilot immediately. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees aviation employee conduct. Such incidents raise concerns about professional standards. The DGCA expects high standards from all personnel. This applies even when staff are off-duty. The investigation continues to reconstruct events. The outcome will determine further regulatory and career impacts. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.

Industry Impact and Future Challenges

This high-profile incident highlights aviation employee conduct challenges. It stresses the need for Indira Gandhi International Airport staff training. Airline staff queue jumping is a common complaint. Airlines must ensure professional behavior from all employees. The incident caused trauma for the passenger's family. The airport assault case drew significant public attention. This public scrutiny impacts the airline's brand image. It also affects the perception of aviation professionalism.

Risk: Public incidents damage airline reputation and passenger trust.
Challenge: Maintaining professional standards for off-duty pilot and staff across all airport areas.
Opportunity: Airlines can reinforce training on conflict resolution and queue management.

The Delhi Police investigation is ongoing. They are scrutinizing the evidence collected. The final findings will guide disciplinary measures.