Who is the Indian-origin Delta pilot arrested from the cockpit for child sex abuse?

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4 days ago

An Indian-origin Delta Airlines pilot, Rustom Bhagwagar, was arrested just minutes after he landed at San Francisco Airport on charges of child sexual assault. The 34-year-old was arrested by US federal agents and is now lodged in the Martinez detention centre read more
An Indian-origin Delta Airlines co-pilot was arrested 10 minutes after he arrived at San Francisco International Airport on charges of child sexual assault.
The accused, 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar from Florida, was taken into custody by federal agents directly from the cockpit of the aircraft he had just helped land.
The sudden arrest left both passengers and crew members stunned, with many confused by the dramatic turn of events unfolding right after touchdown.
Here's what exactly happened.
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Delta co-pilot's dramatic arrest
The case against Rustom Bhagwagar had been quietly building for months. Officials say detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Investigation Division first launched their probe in April 2025, following a report of child sexual abuse.
As their investigation progressed, Bhagwagar, identified as a commercial airline pilot, became a suspect. A Ramey arrest warrant was issued, allowing officers to detain him before any formal charges were filed by a prosecutor.
Authorities soon learned that Bhagwagar was scheduled to co-pilot a flight into San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Saturday, July 26. That flight, Delta Flight 2809 from Minneapolis, landed around 9:35 p.m. after a delayed second approach due to thick fog.
Authorities soon learned that Bhagwagar was scheduled to co-pilot a flight into San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Saturday, July 26. File image./Reuters
That's when law enforcement made their move.
Passengers on board were left stunned as the dramatic arrest unfolded right in front of them.
Eyewitnesses described the moment as 'shocking and unnerving.' Within moments of the plane landing, multiple law enforcement officers, including Homeland Security Investigations agents and air marshals, boarded the aircraft.
🚨BREAKING: A Delta Airlines pilot has been ARRESTED by Homeland Security on CSAM charges — involving child sexual abuse material.
This isn't some random person.
This is someone trusted to fly planes full of passengers — now accused of one of the most vile crimes imaginable.… pic.twitter.com/H6wG0rBlIW — Tony Lane 🇺🇸 (@TonyLaneNV) July 27, 2025
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At least 10 armed officials quickly moved down the aisle and entered the cockpit, where they arrested Bhagwagar in plain sight of passengers.
'They stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors between first and coach,' a passenger told The San Francisco Chronicle via email.
Even the other pilot appeared visibly shaken and confused, reportedly telling passengers he had 'no idea what just happened.'
Who is Rustom Bhagwagar?
The man at the centre of this case is Rustom Bhagwagar, a 34-year-old Indian-origin co-pilot with Delta Air Lines. His last known address is in San Ramon, Texas, although he is reportedly from Florida.
Bhagwagar was booked on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years old. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail set at $5 million.
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According to Fox KTVU, the charges stem from allegations that Bhagwagar sexually abused a girl over a five-year period, from when she was six until she turned eleven. He was allegedly in a relationship with the child's mother during that time.
Even more disturbing, the girl told investigators that her mother knew about the abuse and was sometimes present when it occurred.
Delta Airlines has since responded to the arrest with a strongly worded statement. In a comment to CBS News, the airline said it was 'appalled by charges related to the [pilot's] arrest.'
Speaking to Fox KTVU, a Delta spokesperson added: 'Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement.'
The statement also confirmed that Bhagwagar has been suspended pending an internal investigation.
With input from agencies