Passenger alleges assault by Air India Express pilot at Delhi Airport; airline suspends employee

AIX Pilot, Capt. Vijender Sejwal

Air India Express, on Friday, announced the immediate removal of an employee from official duties following allegations of a physical assault at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1, as the airline pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities and promised a thorough investigation into the incident.

The airline’s statement, posted on its official X account, said, "We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline.....The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending a thorough investigation."

@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

The announcement came after Ankit Dhawan, a passenger, publicly alleged on microblogging site X that he had been assaulted by one of the airline’s pilots, identified as Captain Virender Sejwal.

Here is a short video of Capt. Virender Sejwal looking at me lying on the floor, covered in blood, and probably realising the gravity of the situation for the first time. And a few more things that I did not mention in my earlier post: 🔸 My wife kept requesting for first aid.… https://t.co/CXlrqchhxCpic.twitter.com/x49XtWvfpE — Ankit Dewan (@ankitdewan) December 20, 2025

According to Dhawan, the incident occurred while he and his family, including a four-month-old infant in a stroller, were guided to use a security check lane typically reserved for airport staff and passengers requiring special assistance (PRM lane).

Dhawan said he noticed airport staff cutting the queue ahead of him, and when he raised the issue, the pilot allegedly confronted him verbally.

“On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff. A verbal scuffle broke out,” Dhawan wrote in his post. He added that the altercation quickly escalated, with the pilot physically assaulting him and leaving him bleeding.

Dhawan shared photos showing blood stains on his shirt, which he confirmed were from the assault.

In his detailed post, Dhawan also highlighted the personal impact of the incident. He said his planned holiday was "ruined," that he had to seek medical attention, and that his seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed the assault, was left “traumatised & scared.”

He further criticised Air India Express, questioning the fitness of pilots who could not maintain composure during such incidents, and raised concerns about the airport’s handling of passengers, particularly those with infants. Dhawan also targeted Delhi Airport authorities, alleging that combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants created chaos in a sensitive security area.

Dhawan wrote, "If they can't keep their cool in a scuffle, can they be trusted with the lives of hundreds of people in the sky?.....I was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter further ... It was either write that letter or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain. @DelhiPolice, why can't I file a complaint after coming back?"

He expressed frustration over the police’s alleged inaction and raised concerns about whether CCTV footage would remain accessible when he returned to Delhi to follow up on the case.

Air India Express confirmed that the employee involved has been removed from official duties pending investigation and reiterated that it would cooperate fully with authorities to ensure a fair process.