Delta Pilot Arrested at San Francisco Airport
This past weekend, a Delta Airlines pilot was arrested following the landing of his flight at a California airport. He’s facing serious charges related to child sexual assault after a federal investigation.
Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was taken into custody on Saturday night by federal agents shortly after his Delta Flight 2809 arrived in San Francisco from Minneapolis. As the co-pilot on the flight, he has been charged with five counts concerning sexual offenses against a child under ten, as stated by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
Bhagwagar, who currently resides in Florida, was reportedly under investigation since April. This came after the sheriff’s office received allegations of child sexual abuse. Not much is known publicly about his background or training as a pilot.
Witnesses onboard described chaos as about ten detectives and federal agents from Homeland Security entered the aircraft, arresting Bhagwagar in front of passengers getting ready to board or disembark.
“A group of people with badges, guns, and various agency logos moved through the aisles towards the cockpit,” mentioned one passenger who observed the situation.
Another set of officers followed on the plane to gather Bhagwagar’s belongings. The flight captain, addressing concerned passengers, remarked that he had no idea about the reasons behind his co-pilot’s sudden arrest.
This incident sparked various rumors among those onboard, with some curious passengers speculating that the arrests might have something to do with immigration enforcement.
However, Homeland Security clarified that the operation was linked to local pre-issued arrest warrants, confirming that it was part of an ongoing investigation with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is an ongoing local investigation with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office,” a spokesman stated.
As for Delta Airlines, they have yet to release a statement regarding Bhagwagar’s situation. He is currently being held on bail set at $5 million.
