Air India Express Pilot Sacked After FIR for Allegedly Assaulting Passenger at IGIA

December 22, 2025 at 03:17 PM•3 min read

Air India Express has sacked a pilot following an FIR registered at IGIA for allegedly assaulting a passenger, prompting a Ministry of Civil Aviation

Key Points

1Ministry of Civil Aviation directed Air India Express to ground the pilot immediately following the alleged assault.
2An FIR was registered at IGIA Police Station under BNS Sections 115, 126, and 351 (Voluntarily causing hurt, Wrongful restraint, Criminal intimidation).
3Air India Express removed the pilot from official duties and initiated an internal investigation, condemning the alleged behavior.
4The incident, involving a dispute over an airport staff security lane, has prompted a formal inquiry by MoCA, BCAS, and CISF.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has directed Air India Express to immediately ground a pilot following an alleged physical assault on a passenger at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi. The airline confirmed it has removed the employee from official duties. This action follows the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the pilot.

The incident involves Captain Virender Sejwal, a pilot with Air India Express, and Ankit Dewan, a passenger traveling on a SpiceJet flight. The altercation reportedly began over queue-jumping at a staff security lane at Terminal 1.

Details of the Incident and Response

Conflicting Accounts

Passenger Ankit Dewan stated he and his family, including a four-month-old baby, were guided to use the staff security lane. He alleged the pilot, who was off-duty and traveling on IndiGo, cut the queue. A verbal argument escalated, leading to the pilot allegedly physically assaulting Dewan.

Conversely, the pilot's legal team issued a statement. They claim the incident was a personal matter between two passengers. The statement alleges Dewan initiated the confrontation with verbal abuse. It also denies the assault claims.

Regulatory and Legal Action

The MoCA has taken serious cognizance of the incident. It has ordered a formal inquiry into the matter. Detailed reports are sought from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Delhi Police registered an FIR against the pilot. The case was filed at the IGIA Police Station. The charges fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Specific sections include 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 351 (criminal intimidation).

Air India Express stated it "unequivocally condemns such behaviour." The airline confirmed the pilot was sacked. It pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities. The airline's internal investigation remains pending.

Industry Impact and Code of Conduct

This high-profile incident highlights the critical importance of aviation employee code of conduct. The behavior of airline staff, even when off-duty, reflects on the entire industry. The swift action by the MoCA and the airline sends a strong signal. It reinforces the commitment to passenger safety and professionalism.

Risk to Reputation: Such events can severely damage public trust in an airline's brand.
Regulatory Oversight: The MoCA's direct intervention underscores the strict oversight by India's aviation regulatory bodies, including the DGCA.
Security Protocols: The dispute over the staff security lane also raises questions about airport access protocols. This is a key area for future commercial aviation news coverage.

Passengers expect all aviation personnel to maintain a high level of restraint. The outcome of the police and internal investigations will determine the final disciplinary action. This will set a precedent for future airline employee misconduct cases.

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