Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Air India Express Pilot in Delhi Airport Scuffle
A passenger named Ankit Dewan and an off-duty Air India Express pilot named Virender Sejwal got into a fight at the Delhi airport.
Dewan says the pilot assaulted him after a dispute over cutting a security queue.
The pilot says Dewan started the fight by verbally abusing him.
Both shared different versions of the incident on social media.
The airline has suspended the pilot and will investigate what happened.
The government has also ordered a formal inquiry.
Both the airline and the government say they take the incident very seriously.
Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal and passenger Ankit Dewan were involved in an altercation at Delhi airport's Terminal 1.
Dewan claims the pilot assaulted him after a dispute over queue-jumping at airport security, while the pilot alleges Dewan verbally abused him without provocation.
The incident was captured on social media by Dewan, showing injuries and the pilot's photo, leading to public outrage.
Air India Express suspended the pilot and issued a show cause notice, pending an external inquiry to be conducted next week.
The civil aviation ministry directed the airline to ground the pilot and ordered a formal inquiry, seeking detailed reports from BCAS and CISF.
- Who
- Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal and passenger Ankit Dewan
- What
- Assault incident and altercation at Delhi airport
- When
- December 21, 2023
- Where
- Terminal 1, Delhi Airport
- Why
- Dispute over queue-jumping at airport security, with conflicting accounts of the altercation
Passenger's Allegations
Pilot's Defense
Initiation of Conflict
Passenger's Allegations
Ankit Dewan claims the pilot, Virender Sejwal, assaulted him after a dispute over queue-jumping at the airport security.
Pilot's Defense
The pilot's statement alleges that Dewan verbally abused him without provocation and continued using abusive language.
Nature of the Altercation
Passenger's Allegations
Dewan states that Sejwal insulted him, used casteist slurs, and physically assaulted him, leaving him bleeding.
Pilot's Defense
The pilot's lawyer claimed that casteist remarks were made against Capt Sejwal, and unfathomable threats were made to female members of his family, including a child.
Response to Incident
Passenger's Allegations
Dewan shared photos of his injuries and the pilot's image on social media, leading to public outrage.
Pilot's Defense
The pilot's lawyer stated that the incident was a 'purely personal matter' and that the pilot was traveling as a passenger, not in his professional capacity.
- Incident Location
- Terminal 1, Delhi Airport
- Date of Incident
- December 21, 2023
- Passenger Involved
- Ankit Dewan
- Pilot Involved
- Virender Sejwal
- Airline Response
- Suspended pilot, issued show cause notice, to set up external inquiry
- Government Response
- Directed airline to ground pilot, ordered formal inquiry
- CISF Involvement
- Intervened and offered both parties the option to lodge formal complaints, which they declined
Sources
Delhi airport incident: AI Express issues show cause notice to pilot, to set up external inquiry panel
Delhi Airport Incident: AI Express Issues Show Cause Notice To Pilot, To Set Up External Inquiry Panel
'Casteist Slurs, Threat To Family': Air India Express Pilot Responds To Assault Allegations
Air India Express to set up external committee to probe alleged pilot assault on passenger at Delhi airport
‘Casteist slurs made, not a pilot vs passenger issue’: Air India Express pilot accused of assault issues statement
Delhi airport scuffle: AI Express issues notice to pilot
Delhi Airport Row Takes A Turn: Accused Air India Express Pilot Alleges 'Casteist Abuse' By Passenger
Delhi airport scuffle: Air India Express pilot Sejwal's lawyer alleges ‘false narrative, selectively represented facts’
‘Incident misrepresented on social media as pilot-passenger dispute’: Air India Express pilot on confrontation at Delhi airport
Casteist remarks: What AI Express pilot said on Delhi airport scuffle
Delhi airport altercation resolved on spot, pilot’s lawyer says as Air India Express suspends him - Telegraph India
Delhi airport assault case: Passenger files police complaint
