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A pilot of Air India Express is alleged to have physically assaulted a passenger at Terminal 1 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport following a dispute over the passenger calling out the pilot for cutting a security queue. The passenger claims the altercation escalated from a verbal argument to physical violence, leaving him injured. Reacting to the incident, the airline said the pilot has been removed from official duties.

According to the complainant, the incident occurred while he was travelling with his family, which included a four-month-old baby in a stroller. Airport staff allegedly directed the family to use a priority security lane typically meant for staff and persons with reduced mobility (PRM). The passenger claims that several staff members were cutting the queue at the same checkpoint.

When he objected, the pilot—identified as Captain Virender Sejwal—who was reportedly travelling as a passenger on another airline, allegedly abused him verbally, calling him “anpadh” (uneducated), and questioning his ability to read signage. A verbal altercation followed, which, the complainant alleges, escalated into a physical assault that left him injured and bleeding.

The passenger said he sought medical attention immediately after the incident, adding that the episode deeply traumatised his seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed her father being assaulted. “My holiday is ruined, but more importantly, my child is still shaken and scared,” he said in a detailed social media post tagging Air India Express, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Delhi Airport authorities and Delhi Police.

Raising broader concerns, the complainant questioned how aviation regulators and airlines could permit pilots who allegedly fail to exercise restraint in public confrontations to operate aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers. He also criticised airport management for what he described as mismanagement at a sensitive security area by combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants, leading to confusion and conflict.

The passenger further alleged that he was compelled to sign a letter stating that he would not pursue the matter further to avoid missing his flight and losing holiday bookings worth approximately Rs 1.2 lakh. He questioned why he could not file a police complaint after returning to Delhi and whether CCTV footage would remain preserved in the interim.

In response, Air India Express issued a statement acknowledging the incident. “We are aware of an incident at Delhi Airport involving one of our employees, who was travelling as a passenger on another airline, and had an altercation with another passenger,” the airline said.

“We unequivocally condemn such behaviour. The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the inquiry,” the statement added.

The airline also expressed that it upholds the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times.