Latest news with #Flight2809
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Delta Airlines co-pilot arrested at SFO identified, booked on child sex charges
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A co-pilot on a Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco who was arrested upon landing at San Francisco International Airport has been identified. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, Rustom Bhagwagar, a 34-year-old Florida resident, was arrested at SFO Saturday night for alleged sex crimes against a child. Former Kis Cafe chef apologizes to local social media influencer According to law enforcement, Bhagwagar has been booked on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years old. He is being held on $5 million in bail, sheriff's office officials said on Monday. Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division have been investigating Bhagwagar since April. They secured a Ramey arrest warrant for him and learned he was due to fly into SFO prior to Saturday's arrest. Following the arrest, in which at least 10 officers were seen charging the cockpit of the plane, initial reports indicated the charges were related to child sexual abuse material. The flight, Delta Airlines Flight 2809, had just touched down from Minneapolis when Homeland Security agents and Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputies boarded the plane. Passengers aboard the flight posted video online showing federal agents walking up the aisle of the plane. A Delta spokesperson on Sunday deferred comment to law enforcement. However, on Monday, an airline spokesperson told KRON4 that, 'Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement.' 'We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation,' they added. The arrest was made as part of an investigation by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) official told KRON4. HSI assisted, but federal agents were on the scene primarily to give Contra Costa County deputies access to the plane to make the arrest. Bhagwagar, who reportedly once resided in the East Bay, was booked into Martinez Jail. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Delta Airlines' Indian-origin pilot Rustom Bhagwagar arrested on charges of child sex abuse in San Francisco
A Delta Airlines co-pilot, Rustom Bhagwagar, was arrested on Saturday night (local time) shortly after his flight landed at San Francisco International Airport, following a federal child sex abuse investigation. Delta Air Lines co-pilot Rustom Bhagwagar arrested in San Francisco(X/@BreannaMorello and Bloomberg) Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and sheriff's deputies boarded the Boeing 757-300 and stormed the cockpit, where they arrested the pilot. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the 34-year-old was taken into custody at around 9:35 PM after Flight 2809 arrived from an undisclosed location, USA Today reported. 'The officers and agents were pushing their way up through the aisle and into the cockpit with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings, where they cuffed the co-pilot before leading him away,' the San Francisco Chronicle reported, citing an eyewitness's account. Also Read | Stunned passengers watch as Delta pilot is arrested after flight lands in San Francisco Accused of multiple child sex offences Rustom Bhagwagar faces five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10, according to a statement by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, cited by USA Today. The statement added that the arrest follows a three-month investigation that began in April when officials received a complaint regarding sex crimes against a child. Also Read | US: Delta Air Lines pilot held on child sex abuse charges A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said HSI agents coordinated with deputies to obtain access to the airport and aircraft, CBS News Bay Area reported. 'Detectives later learned that Bhagwagar was an airline pilot and was due to fly into SFO on Saturday evening,' the sheriff's office told CBS News. Delta Airlines responds In a statement to CBS News, Delta Air Lines said, 'Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement. We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest, and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.' The airline said it would defer further comment to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's and Sheriff's offices. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office confirmed to CBS News that Bhagwagar is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on USD 5 million bail.
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First Post
5 hours ago
- First Post
Who is the Indian-origin Delta pilot arrested from the cockpit for child sex abuse?
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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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.… — Tony Lane 🇺🇸 (@TonyLaneNV) July 27, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
Indian-Origin Delta Pilot Arrested From Cockpit On Child Sex Abuse Charges
Last Updated: The arrest took place after the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and agents with Homeland Security Investigations stormed the cockpit. A Delta Airlines co-pilot was arrested 10 minutes after his flight landed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday night (local time). The pilot, identified as Rustom Bhagwagar, was taken into custody on charges of child sexual assault. The arrest took place after the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and agents with Homeland Security Investigations stormed the cockpit, while passengers were still preparing to deplane, according to USA Today. Bhagwagar's arrest comes after he was identified as a suspect in a case involving five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10 in April. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility with a bail set at $5 million. Federal agents and sheriff's deputies stormed the cockpit of the Delta Airlines flight over the weekend and arrested the Indian-origin co-pilot. Flight 2809 arrived at San Francisco International Airport at about 9:35 pm (local time) Saturday when agents from Homeland Security Investigations and Contra Costa Sheriff's deputies boarded the Boeing 757-300 jet and removed the co-pilot, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said, as per CBS News. CBS News reported. Meanwhile, a passenger aboard the flight informed that the plane had just arrived at the gate when deputies and federal agents boarded through the door between the coach and first class sections. He added that the officers pushed their way past passengers who were in the aisle, retrieving their belongings from the overhead bins. (With agency inputs) view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 15:08 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Delta Pilot Arrested From Cockpit 10 Minutes After Landing
A Delta Airlines co-pilot was arrested 10 minutes after his flight landed at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday at around 7:05 am IST. Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was taken into custody on charges of child sexual assault. Authorities with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and agents with Homeland Security Investigations stormed the cockpit shortly after Delta Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300, arrived from Minneapolis. The arrest took place while passengers were still preparing to deplane, according to USA Today. Witnesses say at least 10 DHS agents boarded the plane as soon as it parked at the gate and took the pilot into custody. One of the passengers told the San Francisco Chronicle, "The officers and agents were pushing their way up through the aisle and into the cockpit with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings, where they cuffed the co-pilot before leading him away." Bhagwagar's co-pilot said that he was surprised and had no idea about his arrest. He wasn't made aware of the arrest because of concern that he might inform Bhagwagar, as the agents wanted to arrest him without any chance for him to escape. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff's Facebook post, the detectives have been conducting an investigation since April 2025 after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child. A Ramey arrest warrant was later secured for the suspect. Bhagwagar's arrest comes after he was identified as a suspect in a case involving five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10 in April. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility with a bail set at $5 million. Delta Airlines, in a statement obtained by CBS News, said, "Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement," adding, "We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation."
