Passenger Assaulted by Off-Duty Pilot at Delhi Airport, Suffers Nasal Fracture
A shocking incident of alleged assault by an off-duty Air India Express pilot at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has left a passenger with a serious injury. The victim, Ankit Dewan, has revealed that a recent CT scan confirmed a displaced fracture of his left nasal bone. The event, which occurred on December 19, has now escalated into a formal police case.
Details of the Altercation and Police Action
According to Dewan's account, the confrontation began near the security area of Terminal 1. He objected to staff members allegedly cutting the queue at the security checkpoint. This led to a verbal argument with the off-duty pilot, identified as Virender Sejwal, which quickly turned physical. Dewan alleges the pilot verbally abused him before launching the attack.
The incident was severe enough to cause bleeding and, more distressingly, traumatized Dewan's seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed the entire event. Following the assault, Dewan filed a written complaint with the Delhi Police.
In a significant development, the police have registered a formal case based on his email complaint. The case has been filed under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 351 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. An investigation is currently underway.
Airline's Response and Ongoing Investigations
Air India Express swiftly responded to the allegations. In an official statement, the airline acknowledged that the employee was travelling as a passenger on another airline at the time of the incident. Emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards such behavior, the airline announced that the pilot has been removed from all official duties with immediate effect. An internal investigation has been initiated concurrently with the police probe.
Police officials noted that they became aware of the incident only after Dewan's post appeared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). They stated that the case would be thoroughly examined based on the complaint and all available evidence, including a review of CCTV footage from the terminal.
Meanwhile, the victim, Ankit Dewan, is prioritizing his recovery. "I am focusing on my health right now. A CT scan today showed a displaced fracture of my left nasal bone. I hope I get justice in this matter," he stated. The search for justice now runs parallel to his medical treatment as authorities from both the airline and the law work to ascertain the complete facts of this disturbing airport altercation.
