Ankit Dewan was travelling with his wife, seven-year-old daughter, and four-month-old infant in a stroller when airport staff directed them to a priority security lane at Delhi’s T1, intended for crew members and families with young babies.
Captain Virender Sejwal, who was dead-heading to Bengaluru on an IndiGo flight to take up his Air India Express piloting duties, allegedly cut ahead in the queue. Dewan objected to this, leading to a heated verbal exchange where Sejwal reportedly called him “anpadh” (illiterate) and insisted the lane was reserved for staff.
The situation allegedly escalated into physical violence after Dewan reportedly used foul language regarding Sejwal’s ailing mother, leaving Dewan with a bloodied face, as evidenced by photos he posted on X showing Sejwal’s white shirt smeared with blood.
Dewan described the harrowing scene in detail on social media, noting that his wife overheard Sejwal allegedly warning security personnel that he would strike him.
Despite the presence of a lady officer and at least two CISF personnel one at the X-ray machine and another conducting frisking no immediate intervention occurred, allowing the altercation to unfold in front of Dewan’s young family.
“My seven-year-old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted brutally, is still traumatised and scared,” Dewan wrote, adding that he had to seek medical attention from a doctor upon reaching his destination.
The emotional toll on his family, including the infant in the stroller, has left lasting distress, turning what should have been a routine airport procedure into a nightmare.
Air India Express swiftly responded by grounding Sejwal pending an internal inquiry. A spokesperson for the airline stated: “We are aware of an incident involving one of our employees, who was travelling as a passenger on another airline.
We unequivocally condemn such behaviour. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the inquiry. The airline remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times.”
Security personnel eventually stepped in, permitting Sejwal to board his IndiGo flight to Bengaluru, but he was barred from operating the subsequent Air India Express service.
Government Steps In Amid Coercion Claims
The incident quickly drew higher-level scrutiny, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation taking serious cognisance of the matter. Officials directed Air India Express to immediately ground the pilot and launched a formal inquiry, while seeking detailed reports from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The focus is on understanding why security protocols failed to prevent or halt the alleged assault in a sensitive area like the security checkpoint, highlighting potential lapses in training or procedures for handling disputes involving aviation personnel and passengers.
Dewan raised additional allegations of coercion, claiming he was pressured by airport authorities to sign a letter stating he would not pursue the matter further. This, he said, was to ensure he could board his SpiceJet flight without delay and avoid forfeiting ₹1.2 lakh in holiday bookings for his family.
“Delhi police, why can’t I file a complaint after coming back? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the two days till I make it back to Delhi?” he questioned publicly on X, expressing frustration over the lack of support from law enforcement at the scene.
Delhi Police acknowledged awareness of the incident through social media posts but noted that no formal complaint or FIR had been lodged by Dewan or the airline as of the latest updates.
Dewan also criticised broader mismanagement at the airport, pointing to the risky practice of combining staff entry lanes with those for passengers carrying infants, which he believes created unnecessary chaos in a high-security zone.
He voiced deep concerns about the fitness of pilots under stress, stating: “I have no clue how DGCA and Air India Express can allow such pilots to fly. If they can’t keep their cool in a scuffle, can they be trusted with the lives of hundreds of people in the sky? How can Delhi airport get away with such mismanagement?”
No further statements from Sejwal, the DGCA, or additional officials have surfaced as of Saturday afternoon, leaving many questions unanswered about accountability and preventive measures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Such alleged violence at airports undermines the sense of safety that families, especially those with young children, rightly expect from these public spaces. While no provocation can justify physical assault, the incident exposes vulnerabilities in airport operations, from ambiguous queue protocols to inadequate security responses, which demand urgent reforms to prioritise de-escalation, clear signage, and empathy for all travellers.
Transparent investigations by the Ministry, BCAS, and CISF, coupled with mandatory training in conflict resolution for aviation staff and personnel, could restore faith and promote a culture of kindness and coexistence.
