An off-duty pilot of Air India Express has been suspended after a passenger accused him of physically assaulting him at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The incident is said to have happened at Terminal 1 on Friday.
The passenger, Ankit Dewan, shared details of the incident on X, formerly Twitter. He alleged that the pilot, identified as Captain Virender Sejwal, assaulted him inside the airport terminal.
Dewan also posted a photo showing blood on his face. He said his seven-year-old daughter witnessed the assault and is still traumatised. He was travelling with his family, including his four-month-old daughter, at the time of the incident.
According to Dewan, airport staff guided his family to use the staff security check-in line because they were travelling with a baby in a stroller. He claimed that some staff members were cutting the queue ahead of him.
“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,” Dewan said. He added that a verbal argument followed.
“Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX [Air India Express] pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph on his shirt is also mine,” Dewan said, referring to another post in which he identified the pilot.
AIX Pilot, Capt. Vijender Sejwal pic.twitter.com/Ntp1pnDgdb
— Ankit Dewan (@ankitdewan) December 19, 2025
Air India Express said in a statement that it “unequivocally condemns 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,” the airline said.
The airline added that the pilot was travelling as a passenger on another airline at the time and was involved in an altercation with another passenger.
“Air India Express upholds the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times,” the statement said.
Dear Ankit,
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 19, 2025
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 (1/2)
Dewan also alleged that he was forced to write a letter saying he would not take the matter further.
“… It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the Rs 1.2 lakh holiday bookings down the drain,” he said.
He tagged the official handle of the Delhi Police and asked, “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 next two days till I make it back to Delhi?”
