by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Mon July 28, 2025
UPDATED: July 29 at 9:10 a.m. EST
A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was escorted from the cockpit of an airplane and arrested on the night of July 26 by local law enforcement and Homeland Security, with five charges of child sex crimes.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the pilot, who is now identified as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar, was co-piloting DL2809 from Minneapolis to San Francisco. The flight had just landed after a delayed approach due to fog at around 9:35 p.m. when law enforcement agents boarded the plane and went straight for the cockpit, arresting Bhagwagar.
A passenger witness in first class counted at least ten law enforcement officers, including those identifying as air marshals and agents from the Homeland Security Investigations San Francisco. They arrested the co-pilot and escorted him out of the plane, then another team collected his belongings.
The passenger described the incident as “shocking and unnerving.”
A short video of his escort out of the cockpit was shared with A View From the Wing.
According to the passenger witness, the remaining pilot seemed shocked at the incident and told passengers he had “no idea what just happened.”
USATODAY reports that Bhagwagar is currently being held on $5 million bail. His victim is reported to be under ten years of age.
Delta released a statement, saying, "We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest."
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