An Air India Express captain has been accused of physically assaulting a man who was traveling with his family, after the two got into a disagreement at the airport security line. This is simply wild.
In this post:
Delhi Airport security line disagreement gets physical
On Friday, December 19, 2025, a man named Ankit Dewan took to X to share the awful situation that unfolded while he went through security at Terminal 1 at Delhi International Airport. According to his version of events (and I’m copying and pasting here):
- “Me & my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses (also the PRM check), because we had a 4 month old baby in a stroller.”
- “The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff.”
- “A verbal scuffle broke out.”
- “Not able to excercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine.”
The father claims that he was forced to write a letter stating that he will not pursue the matter further, but feels he had no choice — it was either write the letter or miss the flight and throw away his family holiday plans.
In this post, you can see just how bloodied the father was, and in this post, you can see just how bloodied the pilot’s shirt got, reportedly with the blood of the man he was beating up. The pilot responsible is a captain for Air India Express, but he was off duty at the time of the incident (so wasn’t in full uniform, as he was traveling as a passenger).
Air India Express released a statement regarding the incident, indicating that the employee has been removed from official duties, pending an investigation:
We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation. While we refrain from public comments while due process is followed, please be assured this matter has our highest attention. We remain fully committed to provide due cooperation to law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Civil Aviation has indicated that it’s launching an investigation into what happened:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken serious cognizance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. A formal enquiry has been ordered. Detailed reports have been sought from BCAS and CISF.
The traveler claims that senior executives at Air India Express reached out to him, saying the following:
I was contacted by @AirIndiaX by 2 AVPs from their headquarters. However, the only thing they wanted to convey was that what happened was the actions of an individual, and not what the company stands for, and that they will fully co-operate with the police.
My take on this shocking airport confrontation
Up until this confrontation got physical, I can see both sides. It sounds like at Delhi Airport, they sometimes combine airline staff and families into the same line. That seems like an odd system, since those are probably a combination of the slowest and fastest people to clear security.
So it sounds like the pilot tried to cut the family, which doesn’t necessarily surprise me, since it’s common for airport and airline staff to cut “regular” passengers in many places around the globe. Clearly the father wasn’t happy about that, and confronted him, and “a verbal scuffle broke out.”
Perhaps the father was even out of line by trying to argue with the pilot, and it sounds like the verbal disagreement wasn’t even one-sided.
However, to go from having a verbal disagreement to beating someone up to the point that your shirt is full of blood is a major, inexcusable escalation. And while I don’t think such violence is ever acceptable, it’s particularly unconscionable to do this in front of a family, with two small children. This captain doesn’t sound like someone who I’d want in charge in a stressful situation.
Bottom line
An Air India Express pilot has been suspended after being accused of physically assaulting a father in a security line at Delhi Airport. The family of four was reportedly directed into a security line that’s shared with employees, and the pilot cut them. The father confronted the pilot, and the two got into a verbal argument.
Up until that point, I don’t think either party is clearly in the right. However, the pilot then took it to the next level, and reportedly physically assaulted the father, to the point that there was blood all over the place. The pilot has now been suspended pending an investigation.
What do you make of this Delhi Airport security line disagreement?
The pilot sounds like a complete twat. If he's not on duty he's no more entitled to special privileges than any other passenger. If he's willing to physically assault a stranger over a minor altercation he's too immature, too volatile, and too unpredictable to be in command of a commercial passenger aircraft. He should start looking for a new career path.
Nice airline…….if their pilots are killing passengers, they’re assaulting them.
Yes, if you are killing people you are also assaulting them. Congrats on understanding lesser included offenses. Now, let's move on to M'Naghten. You're going to want to pay extra close attention to this one.
Wasn’t the pilot in civilian clothes?
What difference does that make?
It would not be clear to anyone that the pilot is in a position of authority. If he was in uniform this never would have happened (people respect authority) and the Passenger would not have been trying to start a fight.
In the life of a pilot, you may frequently encounter stressful situations. For some of them you don’t get a second chance to make a calm and rational decision.
It is totally irrelevant if and to what extend a passenger may have misbehaved in the (staff) security lane at an airport.
This pilot should never ever be allowed to be in charge of a commercial airliner again. Full stop.
Please let me know If any Good News has come out of India Lately? Have the SCAM callers from India stopped calling middle of the night ? Are Indian Techies not urinating in Public in US anymore?
Hello there Pakistan, always in India’s shadow.
Just like how nothing useful or intelligent comes out of your mouth.
Aloha Snackbar
Lol the Indians are out for your head now. Careful
Some may have forgotten about, or, are not aware of the caste system in India. Although technically banned, the system continues to be practiced today. Caste based discrimination, segregation, inequality and violence continue to plague the nation.
This event could have been caste motivated.
(facepalm)…This was nothing more than a pilot on a power trip.
Brown(Child), whatever your “Facepalm” means to you, one could only hazard a guess. However, to me it indicates that you possess a very infantile attitude towards life. Furthermore, it demonstrates your contempt for the history and cultural heritage of those who inhabit the Indian subcontinent. Notwithstanding, your ignorance of the facts of this case and the events which led up to it, yes?
Crawl back into your hovel and grow up to become a man rather than a boy!
I wish that pilot would put hands on 1990.
Don’t you like Ben, then Dave?
Extremely unlikely Ben is 1990. But while we're at it I wish the pilot would put hands on you.
What a droll individual you are Dave …. surely you know that no civilian aviator can ever “Put hands on” a distinguished ex-military aviator, yes?
Now, crawl back into your hovel and keep your infantile missives to yourself, alternatively, prepare yourself to be verbally put firmly back into your box, yes?
He would gladly take the beating, out of white guilt, first world privilege, or whatever weird stuff the lunatic left has in their rotten minds. He even dares to defend the worst criminal scum of my homecountry (even my very own HOME STATE in Venezuela) calling them 'innocent fishermen'.
To whom are you addressing you post BKK?
It's being addressed to YOU, AeroB13a, yes?
“Monkey” by name and foolish monkey by nature, yes?
Seemingly, some people are so innately ignorant that they cannot even think of their own login name. Pop back into your cage monkey and continue on doing what you do best …. stuff your nuts where the sun never shines darlink.
Not surprising this sort of behaviour is so common in Narendra Modi’s India. A leader that actively encourages racism and violence. A duplicitous monster who is friends with war criminals such as Putin and Netanyahu.
Indians keep voting for this sort of broken society. Shameful.
BZ, correction you old trout …. only Putin has been classified as a “War criminal” don’t you know?
What an asinine comment
Ole, to whom do you address your comment, it is very rude not to bother with such things old bean, yes?
Good ol' BZ rides again, railing against the injustices of the world with unrivalled fury. Try a hunger strike, buddy. It's working really well for the Hamas-apologist vandals on remand in the UK.
Good old PeteAU strikes again. A shill for zionism, genocide and Epstein. Did the $7000 cheque arrive in your bank account on time today?
"It sounds like at Delhi Airport, they sometimes combine airline staff and families into the same line."
I have found this to be the case at many airports around the world, including including in the US (not TSA because of Known-Crewmember, but immigration). I would fly quite a bit growing up with my mother (and I still do), and she is in a wheelchair/mobility scooter when we fly (and has always been). When I fly...
"It sounds like at Delhi Airport, they sometimes combine airline staff and families into the same line."
I have found this to be the case at many airports around the world, including including in the US (not TSA because of Known-Crewmember, but immigration). I would fly quite a bit growing up with my mother (and I still do), and she is in a wheelchair/mobility scooter when we fly (and has always been). When I fly with her, we are always allowed to go through special lanes at every part of the airport so we never wait in long lines, along with other wheelchair passengers. At many airports, the staff would direct us to use the crew lanes because the lines were shorter and they normally do not have a dedicated lane for handicapped passengers.
I have not figured out why they move to the front of lines for those in scooters and wheelchairs (as they are seated), while the handicapped/elderly passengers that are standing remain in the line? If the person is in a scooter/wheelchair, why can’t they wait in the same line as they don't have to stand so there is no physical stress….
After going through security they are still seated in the same chair to wait...
I have not figured out why they move to the front of lines for those in scooters and wheelchairs (as they are seated), while the handicapped/elderly passengers that are standing remain in the line? If the person is in a scooter/wheelchair, why can’t they wait in the same line as they don't have to stand so there is no physical stress….
After going through security they are still seated in the same chair to wait for the flight. Now if it's airport personnel pushing their chair or an airport chair, I understand the cost savings of not having the airport employee waiting in line.
I guess I am being too practical.
The reason is to get them through immigration and out of the chair quickly, so they can leave the airport and another person can use the chair.
@Steve - @UncleRonnie is correct when a person is using an airport provided wheelchair. For people using their own mobility devices, they need a separate lane because the standard lane is typically too narrow for most mobility devices to be able to navigate and turn. Additionally, there is also a high chance of someone accidentally hitting someone with their device or running over their foot.
And when at airport security, if the passenger cannot...
@Steve - @UncleRonnie is correct when a person is using an airport provided wheelchair. For people using their own mobility devices, they need a separate lane because the standard lane is typically too narrow for most mobility devices to be able to navigate and turn. Additionally, there is also a high chance of someone accidentally hitting someone with their device or running over their foot.
And when at airport security, if the passenger cannot get up and walk through the metal detector un-assisted, then they need a manual inspection. Their mobility device also needs to be manually inspected, and both of those take a lot more time, in addition to the time it takes for an available screening officer to come over. There were many times I would wait in the standard TSA lane and my mother was put at the front of the line, yet I would be done before her.
It's easy! Those pushing wheelchairs have limited time for each job, and cannot afford to wait in a huge line forever. It's all about them, not the person in the chair.
I will refrain from commenting of the proliferation of seemingly incapacitated Indian travellers worldwide who are in on this 'perk'.
There's probably elements of various things, such as physical space in the lines, tight corners to navigate, risk of bumping into other people and possibly additional needs that can't be managed with long waits.
I don't get why you would escalate in this situation, especially when you have family with you. It's pretty well-known you should let staff pass you.
Idiotic comment and idiotic mindset. To be expected from someone called "yoloswag420"
I mean if that's the mindset that lets me avoid getting assaulted, then I'll take whatever asinine comments come my way. Truly genuis level insights from "Ben Holz".
Why is it idiotic? If you're going to call someone out you should at least explain your point of view. I see staff go through tsa all the time. I would expect them to have priority unless you want your flight held up because someone at tsa couldn't unfold their baby carriage and won't let the pilot through.
Totally agree. Some people are idiots
India is the best country in the world. Best airlines. Best airports. Best safety record. Best in everything! Air India is even more premium than Delta, which is the 2nd best airline in the world.
Dump on India all you want, it's one of the most important countries on earth, and your mocking and dismissing it is really your loss, not India's.
This comment is going to get deleted by @Ben.
No need to dump on India. It's already the world's largest septic tank.
Yikes.
Can anyone spell "UNCONTROLLED RAGE".
Scary!
And the fact that this "pilot" is allowed to be in command of the lives of passengers is quite worrisome.
Millions cannot spell some very basic English words:
English American
Labour Labor
Colour Color
Tyre Tire
Need I offer more? As you post Jedidiah, many cannot spell English correctly.
Depends entirely which country you are in!
Americans speak an English-based language of their own.
Thats fine with me; just don't call it 'English' with a straight face!
A good point well made glenn.
It is just like those who have the audacity to call everyone who resides on the British Isles, British! Some of us will always be English as long as the Pope has a balcony.
Is the pilot a Camilla suporter
Who? and why?
All Trump's fault
This time, it's not.
He's too busy raging about his hooker bride's underpants on social media today, in between hallucinating and slurring his fatmentia-addled words.
@TravelinPenis.
Clearly the joke was lost on you....LOL
This is absolutely outrageous and unforgivable and a slap in the face to the travelling public! As a member of this, I am seething with rage over this cowardly assault by that inconsequential Air India Express pilot on a passenger at Delhi's IGI airport. What kind of spineless thug with undescended testicles thinks he can cut queues and then physically attack someone for calling him out? This isn't just a "dispute" but a blatant abuse...
This is absolutely outrageous and unforgivable and a slap in the face to the travelling public! As a member of this, I am seething with rage over this cowardly assault by that inconsequential Air India Express pilot on a passenger at Delhi's IGI airport. What kind of spineless thug with undescended testicles thinks he can cut queues and then physically attack someone for calling him out? This isn't just a "dispute" but a blatant abuse of power that endangers everyone who flies! IATA and ICAO must respond with fury, investigate this scum immediately, and impose the harshest penalties to ensure no pilot ever dares to pull such a despicable stunt again.
Good god, what a filthy and racist comments section this story has unearthed.
@ MMO -- Agreed, unacceptable. I just deleted the comments, and this is a warning to others, that this kind of racism won't be tolerated, and if there are any similar comments, I'll delete them and ban the person who wrote them.
Ben, you sound like this something new. Your comments sections are routinely filled with racist, sexist, and other vile comments that go unmoderated.
Careful now Tyler, there could be a chance that it is the messengers like you and me, who could be the ones to suffer retribution.
One thousand percent true
Well, well Ben, one welcomes you taking a stand against racism, etc, better late than never.
Keep up the good work.
It has to do with Class not Caste. Unfortunately even if one is of a higher class or one with a status. One who is not brought up well, will raise his/her hands.
The reason for this behavior is just a blatant idea that all an sundry has to bow down to "ME" because of my status.
I bet a Real Royal who was traveling incognito would wait his or her turn.
Because that's the way he/she was brought up......to have and be classy.
@Ben if you see a poster named “Jackson” (sometimes with a last name like Waterston) just know he has a decade long history of openly racist posts on LALF and VFTW.
Thank you! The comment sections on airline blogs have often become unreadable.