Uproar at Delhi Airport: Air India Express pilot accused of assaulting passenger, airline removed him from duty

New Delhi: There was chaos at Terminal-1 of Delhi Airport on Friday when a passenger made a serious allegation of assault on an off-duty pilot of Air India Express. It is alleged that the dispute over the security check line turned violent, due to which the passenger suffered injuries.

After the incident, the matter reached social media, where the victim passenger shared his ordeal. Air India Express has also reacted to this entire incident and said that the concerned pilot should be immediately removed from official duty and action should be taken.

Controversy started from security check line

SpiceJet passenger Ankit Devan posted on social media platform X that he was traveling with his family. She had a four-month-old baby in a stroller with her, due to which she was asked by the staff to go through the PRM and staffed security screening line.

According to Devan, during this time some staff members, including Captain Virendra Sejwal of Air India Express, started cutting the line ahead of him. When he protested against this, the matter escalated.

Insulted by calling him ‘illiterate’ and then accused of assault

Ankit Devan wrote in his post,"When I interrupted him, Captain Virendra, who was doing the same thing himself, asked me if I was illiterate and whether I could not read the signs that said this entrance was for staff. ",He alleged that after an argument, Captain Sejwal lost his temper and attacked him."Unable to maintain control, the AIX pilot physically attacked me, leaving me bleeding," Devan wrote.

had a deep impact on the family

The victim passenger said that this incident mentally shook his entire family. " My holidays were ruined. The first thing I did as soon as I came here was to see a doctor. My seven-year-old daughter, who saw her father brutally attacked, is still shocked and scared," they wrote.

Devan raised the question whether such pilots should be given the responsibility of flying, who are unable to maintain composure in stressful situations.

Questions raised on airport management also

Ankit Devan also made serious allegations against Delhi Airport management. They say that there was a single line of staff entry and passengers traveling with infants created chaos and tension.

He also claimed that he was forced to write a letter, in which it was said that he would not take any further action.
"I was forced to write a letter in which I said that I would not pursue the matter further… either I had to write that letter, or miss my flight and waste a holiday booking worth Rs 1.2 lakh," they wrote.

Questions raised over complaint not being filed

Devan also asked questions to Delhi Police as to why he was not allowed to file a complaint after returning from leave."Do I have to sacrifice my money to get justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in two days by the time I return to Delhi?" He wrote in the post.

Air India Express response

Air India Express, reacting to the matter, said that the employee involved in the incident has been immediately removed from duty. The airline said in its statement," We deeply regret the incident that occurred at Delhi Airport, in which one of our employees took part while traveling as a passenger on another airline. We express our heartfelt condolences to those affected and strongly condemn such behavior." The airline also clarified that appropriate action is being taken in the matter.

@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

Pilot left for Bengaluru after the incident

According to news agency PTI, after the incident, Captain Virendra Sejwal traveled from Delhi Airport to Bengaluru via Indigo flight.