'Casteist slurs used against me’: Air India Express pilot responds to assault allegation

Ankit Dewan has alleged Captain Sejwal (L) assaulted him during security check-in

The Air India Express pilot accused of assaulting a passenger at Delhi airport following a dispute over jumping a security queue has issued a statement denying key allegations and calling the incident a “purely personal matter”.

A law firm representing Captain Virender Sejwal said reports had wrongly portrayed the episode as a “pilot versus passenger” dispute. The statement said Sejwal was travelling as a passenger at the time, was not on duty, and that the incident had no connection to his professional role or airline responsibilities.

According to the statement, online outrage over the incident is based on a “one-sided and incomplete misrepresentation of facts”. It is alleged that passenger Ankit Dewan selectively presented details to create a false narrative while ignoring alleged casteist remarks and serious threats made against Sejwal and his family, including a child.

Ankit Dewan has claimed that Captain Sejwal assaulted him at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 while he was travelling with his family, including his four-month-old daughter. Dewan said airport staff asked him to use a staff security queue because the baby was in a stroller.

In a post on X, Dewan alleged that when he objected to staff cutting the queue, Sejwal insulted him, calling him “anpadh” (uneducated), leading to a verbal argument that turned physical. He said the pilot beat him, leaving him bleeding, and claimed the blood visible on Sejwal’s shirt belonged to him.

Captain Sejwal’s statement countered this version, alleging that Dewan initiated the confrontation by verbally abusing him without provocation and continued using abusive and threatening language despite repeated warnings. It said both men were injured during the scuffle and that CISF personnel intervened promptly.

The statement also rejected Dewan’s claim that he was forced to sign a letter agreeing not to pursue the matter. It said both parties voluntarily signed statements in the presence of CISF officials confirming they did not wish to file complaints. The CISF, it added, has publicly stated that both individuals were offered the option to lodge formal complaints, which they declined.

Sejwal’s legal team also criticised attempts to link Air India Express to the incident, saying it was unrelated to his employment and accusing some of seeking social media attention over an already settled issue. The statement said the pilot has full faith in the authorities to examine the matter impartially and urged the public and media to rely on verified facts.

Earlier, Air India Express said it “unequivocally condemns such behaviour” and confirmed that the pilot has been removed from duty pending investigation. The airline said disciplinary action would follow based on the findings of the inquiry.