Allegation of Pilot Physically Assaulting a Passenger at Delhi Airport Sparks Controversy
An alleged assault between a pilot and a passenger at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport has drawn significant public attention. According to claims shared by SpiceJet passenger Ankit Dewan, the incident began when an off-duty Air India Express pilot, Captain V.S., allegedly attempted to cut in line at a special security lane while Dewan was waiting with his four-month-old baby. It is reported that a verbal dispute over the line violation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in facial injuries to Dewan.
The passenger further made a more serious allegation, stating that immediately after the incident he was pressured to sign a waiver agreeing not to file a complaint in exchange for not missing his flight and preventing the loss of vacation bookings worth approximately 1.2 lakh rupees (around USD 1,340). Addressing authorities via social media, Dewan claimed that airport security forces (CISF) remained passive in the face of the pilot’s aggressive behavior and questioned the status of the CCTV footage.
In a statement on the matter, Air India Express said that it does not accept or condone such behavior and strongly condemned the incident, adding that the pilot involved has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
