NEW DELHI: Govt has ordered a probe into the case of an Air India Express pilot allegedly beating up a passenger at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 on Friday. The two had a spat after which Captain Virender Sejwal allegedly assaulted passenger Ankit Dewan.
Why no one, including CISF personnel posted at the entrance, intervened when the matter had escalated to such an extent, is being examined."The ministry of civil aviation has taken serious cognisance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. A formal inquiry has been ordered. Detailed reports have been sought from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)," the ministry said on X Saturday. No police complaint has been lodged.The Air India Express pilot was "dead heading" to Bengaluru — travelling as a passenger to another place to operate a flight from there — on IndiGo. Dewan was travelling with his family on SpiceJet. After the fight, they went to their destinations. AI Express grounded Captain Sejwal and he didn't operate the flight he was rostered to from Bengaluru.What allegedly happened: While Captain Sejwal was at the staff entry gate, CISF personnel directed Dewan to this gate as he was travelling with children.
He was on one side of the entrance and the pilot was on the other. "Captain Sejwal was going ahead of his side of the queue being a crew member. Dewan started questioning this, but allegedly in not a decent language or tone. The CISF personal asked him not to speak like that.
When he did not stop, the captain hit him. The personnel on duty separated them," a CISF source said."Our personnel asked Dewan if he wanted to file a police complaint so that they could take him to the airport police station.
He gave in writing that he did not want to do so. Both the pilot and Dewan went to their destinations," the CISF source added.On reaching the destination, Dewan said on X: "…one of (AI Express) pilots, Captain Virender Sejwal, assaulted me physically at T1, Delhi airport. Me & my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses, because we had a 4-month-old baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me.
On calling them out, Captain Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn't read the signs that said this entry was for staff.
A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to exercise restraint, the AI Express pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody."Dewan added that he had to "see a doctor" and that his "7-year-old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted, is still traumatised & scared." "I have no clue how DGCA and Air India Express 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 Delhi airport get away with such mismanagement, combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants!"An AI Express spokesperson said: "We unequivocally condemn such behaviour. The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation."Dewan added on X: "I was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter. It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakh holiday bookings down the drain. Delhi police, why can't I file a complaint after coming back?"