Air India Express Pilot’s Lawyer Denies Assault Claims, Says Matter Settled at Airport

On Sunday, the lawyer for Air India Express pilot Captain Virendra Sejwal came out with a clarification regarding the incident involving a dispute with one of the airline's passengers at Delhi's airport. “The issue has been resolved at the airport in the presence of CISF officials and is being misconstrued on social media,” said lawyer Sonali Karvasara Joon. An incident took place at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 on Friday. Captain Sejwal was flying as a passenger and wasn’t flying the plane at that time. During that period, he had an altercation with one of the airline’s passengers,named Aniket/Ankit Dewan.

Dewan posted the incident on a social media site, accusing the pilot of assault and posting some images of the event. Afterward, Air India Express grounded the pilot while investigating the incident. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also took the matter seriously, ordering the pilot's immediate grounding and an investigation.

On Sunday, the pilot's lawyer issued a statement stating that the reports circulating on social media were one-sided and incomplete. He alleged that the passenger deliberately distorted facts and attempted to sensationalize a settled personal matter.

Furthermore, the lawyer claims that during the altercation, casteist remarks were made against Captain Sejwal and female members of his family, including a child, were threatened. The statement stated that in the presence of CISF officers, both parties mutually agreed in writing that they would not pursue any legal action. The lawyer also stated that the incident had nothing to do with Captain Sejwal's job or professional responsibilities. Linking the airline's name to the incident is incorrect and was done solely to garner attention on social media.

It is noteworthy that passenger Ankit Dewan had alleged on the social media platform X that the pilot assaulted him and that the incident had frightened his seven-year-old daughter. Air India Express, meanwhile, stated in a statement that it condemns such behavior and will take appropriate action after an investigation. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also sought a detailed report from the BCAS and CISF, and a formal investigation has been initiated.