Indian-Origin Delta Co-Pilot Arrested in Cockpit Minutes After Landing in San Francisco
In a dramatic incident, Delta Airlines co-pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, of Indian origin, was arrested just 10 minutes after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday. The arrest occurred aboard Delta Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300 that had arrived from Minneapolis, while passengers were still preparing to deplane.
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department boarded the aircraft as soon as it reached the gate and entered the cockpit to take Bhagwagar into custody. According to eyewitnesses, the agents moved swiftly through the aisle with badges, guns, and marked vests before handcuffing the co-pilot.
One passenger told the San Francisco Chronicle, “The officers and agents were pushing their way up through the aisle and into the cockpit… they cuffed the co-pilot before leading him away.”
Bhagwagar’s fellow pilot reportedly had no prior knowledge of the arrest plan. Authorities deliberately withheld this information to prevent any chance of warning the suspect or risking an escape.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement, revealed that Bhagwagar was being investigated since April 2025 in connection with multiple child sexual assault allegations. A Ramey arrest warrant was issued after detectives received a report of sexual abuse involving a minor.
Bhagwagar has been charged with five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail set at $5 million.
In response to the incident, Delta Airlines issued a statement saying:
“Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement. We are appalled by the reports of the charges related to the arrest, and the individual in question has been suspended pending investigation.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
