Air India Express Pilot Punches Man, Leaves Him Bleeding; Airlines Removes Pilot From Duty

A SpiceJet passenger has alleged that an off-duty Air India Express pilot assaulted the passenger at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1 after a dispute at security. Police said they learnt about the Delhi airport incident from social media and are waiting for a written complaint. Air India Express has removed the pilot from duty.

The airline confirmed the pilot was travelling as a regular passenger when the argument allegedly turned violent. According to sources cited by PTI, the pilot later boarded an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru after the Delhi airport incident. So far, neither the passenger nor the airline has lodged a formal police complaint.

Air India Express response to Delhi airport incident

Air India Express issued a statement expressing regret over the Delhi airport incident and said the airline “strongly condemns any form of unacceptable behaviour”. The airline stated that the pilot has been taken off official duties with immediate effect while further action is pursued. The statement added that the airline empathised with the distress caused to the passenger and family.

The complainant, identified as Ankit Dewan, shared a detailed account of the Delhi airport incident on X. Dewan named Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal and said Dewan was travelling with family, including a four-month-old baby in a stroller. Dewan wrote that airport personnel directed the family towards a priority security lane.

Queue dispute and Delhi airport incident timeline

Dewan claimed the special lane was used both by airport staff and passengers needing assistance. Dewan alleged some airline employees, including the pilot, moved ahead in the queue. When Dewan objected, a heated argument started. Dewan further alleged the pilot used abusive language and then physically assaulted Dewan near the security checkpoint.

According to Dewan, the Delhi airport incident left visible injuries that required medical attention. Dewan said the confrontation happened in front of family members. Dewan stated that the seven-year-old daughter saw the altercation and appeared shaken. Dewan also said the clash ruined the beginning of a planned holiday and raised doubts about crew members managing anger.

Dewan criticised Delhi airport management, linking the Delhi airport incident to poor crowd handling. Dewan alleged that mixing airline staff with passengers carrying infants at the same access point caused confusion. Dewan suggested clearer segregation of lanes for employees and vulnerable passengers could have prevented tension building at the security area.

Dewan also alleged that several people pressured Dewan to sign a statement promising not to pursue the Delhi airport incident further. Dewan claimed refusing might have meant missing the flight and losing costly holiday bookings. Dewan wrote that there is uncertainty about whether any justice will follow once the trip ends and a complaint is filed.

The Delhi airport incident has now raised questions over airline crew conduct, airport queue management, and how conflicts at security are handled. With no formal complaint yet, police and airport authorities are relying on social media accounts, while Air India Express continues its internal process against the pilot named by the passenger.