An Air India Express pilot has been accused of physically assaulting and injuring a passenger at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1 during an altercation over the use of a staff security check area by the passenger and his family. The pilot—identified as Virender Sejwal—has been removed from official duties by the Tata group airline, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) also swinging into action, ordering the pilot’s immediate grounding and a formal investigation into the matter. Delhi Police said that no formal complaint has been received yet, it will initiate legal action once the passenger files a written complaint.
Describing the ordeal he and his family went through on Friday at the Delhi airport, the passenger—Ankit Dewan—posted on social media platform X that during the security check for his SpiceJet flight, he and his family, which included a four-month-old baby, were guided to use the security check meant for staff and persons with reduced mobility. According to him, he had a verbal altercation with Sejwal, who was among airline staff members cutting the queue, after which the pilot got violent and assaulted him. At the time of the incident, Sejwal was not on official duty and was travelling as a passenger with another airline.
“Me & my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses (also the PRM check), because we had a 4 month old baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (illiterate), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff. A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to excercise restraint, the AIX (Air India Express) pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine,” Dewan posted, along with pictures of his bloodied face and those of Sejwal.
He also posted a video wherein Sejwal can be seen pacing around him as he and his wife comforted their distressed seven-year-old daughter, surrounded by a few Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. In that post, Dewan alleged that the pilot was looking at him, “lying on the floor, covered in blood, and probably realising the gravity of the situation for the first time.” He also said that he had to wait 45 minutes to receive first aid, and that CISF personnel at the security check did not take any preventive action even as Sejwal told one of them “main isko maar ke aata hu” (I’ll come back after beating him up). Dewan also alleged that Sejwal initially claimed that he was a pilot with government-owned regional airline Alliance Air, “probably wanting to escape without involving his employer”.
“My holiday is ruined. The first thing I have done here is see a doctor. My 7 year old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted brutally, is still traumatized & scared. I have no clue how @DGCAIndia (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) & @AirIndiaX can allow such pilots to fly. If they can’t keep their cool in a scuffle, can they be trusted with the lives of hundreds of people in the sky? How can @DelhiAirport get away with such mismanagement, combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants, creating chaos at a sensitive security area? I thought Airports were safe places!” Dewan wrote in one of his posts on X.
The passenger also alleged that he was forced to write a letter stating that he will not pursue this matter further, as the only options he had was either that or missing his flight, which would have wasted Rs 1.2 lakh that he and his family had spent on their holiday bookings.
“@DelhiPolice, why can’t I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the 2 days till I make it back to Delhi?” Dewan asked in his post on X.
Responding to Dewan’s post, the Delhi Police said: “No such matter has been reported to the police station either by @ankidewan or by the airlines. The matter has come to the knowledge of the police through this social media post. Whenever a written complaint is received by the victim, in this regard, appropriate legal action will be taken.”
Reacting to the incident, MoCA said Saturday, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken serious cognizance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. A formal enquiry has been ordered. Detailed reports have been sought from BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) and CISF.”
Air India Express condemned Sejwal’s behavior and promised disciplinary action based on the investigation.
“We are aware of an incident at Delhi Airport involving one of our employees, who was travelling as a passenger on another airline, and had an altercation with another passenger. We unequivocally condemn such behaviour. The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the inquiry. Air India Express upholds the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.
Responding to Dewan’s post on X, the airline expressed regret and said that the issue was being “formally escalated to the concerned authorities for immediate review and appropriate action”.
“We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation. While we refrain from public comments while due process is followed, please be assured this matter has our highest attention. We remain fully committed to provide due cooperation to law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process,” Air India Express said in its response to Dewan’s post.
Airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) posted on X: “Dear Ankit, We are deeply concerned by the experience you have shared and sincerely regret the distress caused to you and your family. The issue is being formally escalated to the concerned authorities for immediate review and appropriate action. Passenger safety and well-being remain our highest priority and we are committed to ensuring such incidents are addressed with utmost seriousness.”