Delta Pilot of Indian Origin Arrested at San Francisco Airport on Sexual Assault Charges

Rustom Bhagwagar, a 34-year-old Delta Air Lines co-pilot of Indian origin, was apprehended at San Francisco International Airport shortly after landing on Sunday. The arrest, which occurred around 7:05 AM IST, was made on charges of sexual assault. Law enforcement, including agents from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations, took Bhagwagar into custody within minutes of the Boeing 757-300, Delta Flight 2809, arriving from Minneapolis. The co-pilot, unaware of the situation, expressed surprise. The arrest stems from an investigation launched in April 2025, following reports of sex crimes against a child, leading to an arrest warrant. Bhagwagar faces five counts of sexual abuse of a child under 10 and is being held at Martinez Detention Facility with bail set at $5 million.