Delhi Police files FIR in assault of flyer by AI Express pilot incident

New Delhi: An FIR has been registered in connection with the alleged assault of a passenger by an off-duty Air India Express pilot after police received a formal complaint from the victim, officials said on Monday.

The complaint was submitted via email by Ankit Dewan, following which a case was registered and an investigation initiated, the Delhi Police said in a statement. “We have registered an FIR under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 126 (wrongful restraint) and Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),” the statement said.

Earlier, police had said no formal complaint had been received and that they became aware of the alleged incident only after a post surfaced on social media platform X.

Dewan has alleged that he was physically assaulted by Air India Express Captain Virender Sejwal near the security area of Terminal 1. He claimed the incident left him bleeding and traumatised his seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed the altercation.

According to Dewan, the dispute began after he objected to certain staff members allegedly cutting the queue at the security checkpoint. He has alleged that the pilot abused him verbally before assaulting him.

The incident allegedly took place on December 19, when Sejwal, who was off duty at the time, had an altercation with Dewan. The passenger later shared details of the incident and photographs on social media the same evening.

Air India Express had earlier said it was aware of the incident involving one of its employees, who was travelling as a passenger on another airline, and that the pilot had been removed from official duties with immediate effect pending an internal investigation.

Police said the matter will now be examined on the basis of the complaint and available evidence, including CCTV footage.