(Image source from: Instagram.com/delta)
A Delta Airlines co-pilot was taken into custody just 10 minutes after his airplane touched down at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning around 7:05 am IST. Rustom Bhagwagar, 34 years old, was arrested on allegations of child sexual assault. Law enforcement from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and Homeland Security Investigations rushed into the cockpit right after Delta Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300, arrived from Minneapolis. This arrest was made while passengers were still getting ready to leave the plane, as reported by USA Today. Eyewitnesses mentioned that at least 10 agents from Homeland Security went onto the aircraft immediately after it reached the terminal and apprehended the pilot. One passenger shared with the San Francisco Chronicle, "The officers and agents were pushing their way through the aisle and into the cockpit, showing their badges, carrying guns, and wearing different agency gear, where they handcuffed the co-pilot before taking him away."
Bhagwagar's co-pilot expressed that he was astonished and was unaware of the arrest. He wasn’t informed about the situation because there was a concern he might alert Bhagwagar, as the agents wanted to make the arrest without giving him a chance to run away. As per the Contra Costa Sheriff’s post on Facebook, officials have been investigating since April 2025 after getting information about sexual offenses involving a child. A Ramey arrest warrant was then issued for the suspect. Bhagwagar’s arrest follows him being named a suspect in a case with five charges of oral copulation with a child under 10 years old in April. He remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail set at $5 million. Delta Airlines released a statement through CBS News, saying, "Delta has zero tolerance for illegal behavior and will fully assist law enforcement," adding, "We are horrified by the reports related to the charges against this individual, who has been suspended while the investigation is ongoing."
