Indian American Pilot Arrested in Dramatic Airport Takedown Faces Multiple Child Sex Assault Charges

A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was arrested in a dramatic scene at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday night, facing five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age in a case that has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry.

Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, of Homestead, Fla., was apprehended Saturday night while aboard the Boeing 757 by detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and remains jailed in lieu of $5 million on five counts of sexual assault of a child younger than 10 years old, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

The arrest unfolded in full view of passengers aboard Delta Flight 2809, which had just arrived from Minneapolis. “They stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach,” the passenger wrote, according to eyewitness accounts reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Video footage of the arrest quickly circulated on social media, showing federal agents in plainclothes with badges walking Bhagwagar down the aircraft’s aisle in restraints. The Boeing 757 had landed at approximately 9:35 p.m. after experiencing delays due to heavy fog conditions.

Months-Long Investigation

Sheriff’s investigators confirmed to KRON that Bhagwagar had been under investigation since April. The case began when authorities received a report of alleged sex crimes against a child, launching what would become a multi-month investigation by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrest was coordinated between multiple agencies, with Homeland Security Investigations assisting the sheriff’s office in executing the warrant. According to court documents, Bhagwagar has a last known address in Contra Costa County as Mavis Place in San Ramon, though he currently resides in Florida.

Delta Air Lines moved swiftly to distance itself from the charges, suspending Bhagwagar immediately following the arrest. In a company statement, Delta officials said they were “appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest” and confirmed they are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies.

The airline emphasized its zero tolerance policy for unlawful conduct among employees, though company officials declined to provide additional details about Bhagwagar’s employment history or any prior incidents involving the pilot.

Rustom Bhagwagar remained held on $5 million bail early Monday afternoon on suspicion of several sex crimes, the sheriff’s office said. As of Monday evening, no initial court date had been listed in county records, and it remained unclear whether Bhagwagar had secured legal representation.

The charges Bhagwagar faces are among the most serious in California’s criminal code, carrying potential sentences of 15 years to life in prison for each count if convicted. Legal experts note that cases involving children under 10 years of age often result in the harshest penalties under state law.

Community Impact

The arrest has particularly resonated within the Indian American community, where Bhagwagar’s case has drawn significant attention.

The case also raises questions about background check procedures in the aviation industry, though federal aviation officials have not commented on any potential policy implications stemming from the arrest.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Investigation Division. He was being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on $5 million bail, the Sheriff’s Office said, where he remains as the investigation continues.