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New Delhi: An Air Express India pilot who recently assaulted a passenger at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been arrested, a police official said on Tuesday. Ankit Dewan, a SpiceJet passenger, was thrashed by Captain Virendra Sejwal on December 19 for objecting to the off-duty pilot cutting the boarding queue.
The pilot had earlier joined the probe and was questioned by the investigating officer, the officer said. "In the process of investigation, after the registration of the case, the relevant CCTV footage had been collected and statements recorded. The accused was also called for questioning, and his arrest was effected," the officer said in a statement.
Sejwal was booked under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with violence near the security checkpoint of Terminal 1.
Passenger's serious allegations
In a series of posts on X, the passenger said that he and his family, including his four-month-old daughter, were guided to use the security check-in line that the staff uses as they were travelling with a baby in a stroller.
Dewan alleged that the Air India Express pilot, who was travelling as a passenger on the SpiceJet flight, lashed out at him for using the staff check-in counter. "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 (uneducated), and couldn't read the signs that said this entry was for staff," he said, adding that this led to a verbal scuffle.
"Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine," he added, sharing a photo with blood on his face.
Dhawan, in his post on X, alleged that he was forced to write a letter stating that he will not pursue this matter further. "It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain," he claimed.
He also hit out at the Delhi airport's authorities for combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants and creating chaos at a sensitive security area.
Air India Express responded
Taking note of the incident that took place at Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Air India Express said it "unequivocally condemns such behaviour".
In a statement, the airline said, “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."
It further said that the pilot has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation. The airline also assured Dhawan that appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against its employee 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," it said.
