Air India Express pilot allegedly assaults passenger at Delhi T1; Aviation Ministry asks airline to ground employee immediately

Sharing a video on X Saturday, Ankit Dewan alleged physical assault by Captain Virender Sejwal of the Air India Express.

Describing the scuffle, Dewan claimed: “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 (uneducated), 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 pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine.”

Sharing another post, Dewan alleged that the Captain 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 alleged a delay in receiving emergency aid, as well as negligence of the CISF personnel at the security check.

Dewan claimed that his wife heard the pilot telling the personnel while being frisked at the security check about hitting him. However, the CISF personnel did not take any action.

“Virender Sejwal was getting frisked at the Security Check while continuing his verbal spat with me. There, he told the CISF guy ‘main issko maar ke aata hu’ (I’ll come back after hitting him). My wife who had already cleared security check through the ladies line, heard it clearly. But did CISF take any preventive action? No,” Dewan wrote on X.

Aviation Ministry orders inquiry

Taking cognisance of the matter, the Ministry of Civil Aviation Saturday directed the airline to “ground the pilot with immediate effect”. It also ordered a formal inquiry into the matter, while seeking detailed reports from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

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 and CISF.

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 20, 2025

In a post on X, it wrote, “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 and CISF.”

Air India Express removes pilot from duty

Air India Express also shared a statement condemning the behaviour of the pilot, while sharing that the pilot has been removed from office with immediate effect.

@ankitdewan 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…

— Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) December 19, 2025

“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,” it wrote.

“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,” the airline added.

Virender Sejwal did not immediately issue any statement on the incident.