A Delta Air Lines co-pilot, Rustom Bhagwagar, was arrested Saturday evening within the cockpit of a commercial airliner after it landed at San Francisco International Airport. Federal officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputies raided the cockpit and took the 34-year-old into custody on charges of child sexual abuse.
Rustom Bhagwagar stands accused of five oral copulation charges involving a child under 10 years old, after a three-month probe that started in April. The event stirred serious concerns about airline recruitment procedures, passenger protection, and criminal record monitoring in aviation.
Federal Agents Arrest Pilot in Cockpit
Delta Airlines Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300, had landed at San Francisco International Airport when the arrest took place. Federal agents and deputies stormed the plane around 9:35 PM and advanced quickly up the aisle to the cockpit.
“They shoved their way aboard with badges, guns, and marked vests,” said a witness to the San Francisco Chronicle. “They cuffed the co-pilot on the spot and took him away.
The arrest occurred soon after the plane landed from an unknown destination. Bhagwagar was taken off the flight in the open sight of shocked passengers and staff.
Charges Connected with Ongoing Child Sex Abuse Case
The arrest follows a complaint received by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in April 2025. The complaint had accused several sex offences against a child. Three months of investigation resulted in authorities identifying Bhagwagar as a suspect.
He currently stands accused of five felony charges of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. Officials reported he had been traced to his flight itinerary and was taken into custody upon arrival. Bhagwagar is currently being detained at the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail at $5 million.
Delta Airlines Acts in Response with Suspension
Delta Airlines released a firm statement after the arrest. According to the airline, “Delta has zero tolerance for illegal behaviour and will cooperate fully with law enforcement. The individual has been suspended pending an investigation.”
The airline added that it would leave any additional comments to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.
Red Flags in Pilot Screening Raise Safety Concerns
Rustom Bhagwagar’s high-profile arrest has brought the issue of airline pilot screening back into the spotlight. Background checks are routine during recruitment, but critics feel regular vetting is not done thoroughly. The revelation that a co-pilot who was facing a serious criminal investigation was permitted to fly a commercial plane stunned passengers and aviation experts alike.
Airline passengers entrust their lives to pilots. Instances such as this undermine confidence and suggest the introduction of real-time flagging of criminals in airline HR systems.
“If a person is under investigation for three months on suspicion of child sex abuse, how can they remain flying in a plane?” queried one passenger campaign group online.
Aviation Industry Faces Fresh Scrutiny
The arrest might have been made on the ground, but the questions it raises extend much farther than to one airport. The Rustom Bhagwagar case highlights an urgent problem of contemporary aviation, which is how to ensure not only technical competence but also the moral character of those piloting aircraft.
As the probe unfolds, the airline industry and federal agencies might increasingly come under pressure to beef up background screening, monitor legal warning signs in real-time, and implement stronger protections before takeoff.
