Air India Express Pilot Suspended for Assaulting Passenger at Delhi Airport.

December 19, 2025 at 06:13 PM•2 min read

Air India Express suspended an off-duty pilot after he allegedly assaulted a passenger during a verbal dispute at Delhi Airport.

Key Points

1Air India Express suspended an off-duty pilot immediately following allegations of physically assaulting a passenger at Delhi Airport (DEL).
2The altercation began near the security area over a dispute concerning queue-jumping and the use of staff-only lanes.
3Passenger Ankit Dewan claimed he was pressured to drop the assault complaint to avoid missing his flight and losing Rs 1.2 lakh in holiday bookings.
4The physical assault was witnessed by the passenger's seven-year-old daughter, leading to claims of distress and trauma.

Air India Express has suspended an off-duty pilot following allegations that he physically assaulted a passenger at Terminal 1 (T1) of Delhi Airport (DEL) on Friday. The airline confirmed the incident, stating that the employee was traveling as a passenger on another carrier when the altercation occurred. Air India Express immediately removed the employee from official duties pending a full investigation, unequivocally condemning the reported behavior and promising appropriate disciplinary action based on the inquiry's findings.

The passenger, Ankit Dewan, detailed the incident on social media, sharing images of his injuries. Dewan stated that the dispute began near the security check area when he confronted staff members, including the pilot, Captain Virender Sejwal, for allegedly cutting the queue designated for staff use. According to Dewan, the verbal scuffle escalated after the pilot questioned whether Dewan was "uneducated," leading to a physical assault that was witnessed by Dewan’s seven-year-old daughter, who remains traumatized.

A significant controversy arose regarding the subsequent handling of the complaint. Dewan alleged he was pressured by authorities to write a letter stating he would not pursue the matter further. He claimed this ultimatum forced him to choose between seeking justice and missing his pre-booked holiday flight, which was valued at Rs 1.2 lakh. Dewan publicly questioned why he could not file a formal complaint upon his return, expressing concern that crucial CCTV evidence might be lost in the interim. The off-duty pilot reportedly boarded an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru shortly after the incident.