Indian-origin pilot arrested from aircraft in San Francisco on child sex abuse charges
PTC News Desk: An India-origin Delta pilot was arrested shortly after landing at San Francisco International Airport in connection with a disturbing case involving alleged sex crimes against a child, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said in an official statement.
The accused has been identified as Rustom Bhagwaga, 34, resident of Florida was directly arrested from the aircraft he was co-piloting.
According to the officials, the case dates back to April 2025 when the incident of child sexual abuse came to light detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Investigation Division launched investigation into the matter.
Authorities learned that Bhagwagar was scheduled to fly into San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Saturday, July 26. The Boeing 757-300 he was co-piloting - Delta Flight 2809 from Minneapolis - landed around 9.35 PM after a delayed second approach due to heavy fog. It was then that officers made their move.
At least 10 armed officials pushed their way down the aisle and into the cockpit, where they arrested Bhagwagar in front of stunned passengers.
"They stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors between first and coach," one passenger told The San Francisco Chronicle via email. A second team of officers reportedly returned soon after to collect the co-pilot's personal belongings. The crew reportedly provided no information at the time, and one of the pilots told passengers he had "no idea what just happened."
- PTC NEWS
