Air India Express pilot suspended after allegedly assaulting passenger at Delhi airport
New Delhi :An Air India Express pilot has been suspended following allegations that he physically assaulted a passenger at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The incident, which reportedly took place at Terminal 1, has sparked widespread outrage after the victim shared his ordeal on social media, posting photographs of his injured face and identifying the pilot involved.
According to Air India Express, the airline has taken serious note of the complaint and suspended the pilot with immediate effect pending the completion of an internal investigation. “We are aware of an incident involving one of our staff members and a passenger at Delhi airport.
Such behaviour is completely unacceptable. The concerned employee has been suspended, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation,” the airline said in a statement.
The passenger, Ankit Diwan, alleged that he was assaulted by Air India Express pilot Virendra Sejwal during a heated argument at the airport’s security area. Diwan claimed that he was travelling with his family, including a four-month-old infant and his seven-year-old daughter, when airport staff directed them to follow a particular security protocol meant for airline crew.
“In the middle of this, the pilot verbally abused me, calling me ‘illiterate’. When I objected, the argument escalated, and he physically assaulted me. I started bleeding, and my daughter was left traumatised by what she witnessed,” Diwan said in his social media post.
Diwan further alleged that despite the presence of airport personnel, the situation was not immediately defused. He has demanded strict action against the pilot and accountability from the airline to ensure passenger safety and dignity.
The incident has raised concerns over the conduct of airline staff and the need for stricter enforcement of behavioural standards at airports. Aviation experts have stressed that any form of violence by airline personnel seriously undermines public trust and calls for zero tolerance.
Airport authorities and police are also expected to look into the matter as part of the ongoing inquiry.
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