A day after being grounded for an alleged assault at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Captain Virender Sejwal of Air India Express has hit back, claiming that the viral narrative of him being an “aggressive pilot” is an “incomplete misrepresentation of facts.”
Through a statement issued by his legal team on Sunday, December 21, 2025, Sejwal alleged that the confrontation was sparked not by a queue-jump, but by “unfathomable threats” and “casteist remarks” directed at his family members, including a child.
The Two Sides of the “Staff Gate” Scuffle
The incident, which took place on Friday, December 19, at the Terminal 1 security checkpoint, has divided social media and prompted government intervention.
| Ankit Dewan (Passenger) | Capt. Virender Sejwal (Pilot) |
| Claim: Airport staff allowed his family (with a 4-month-old) to use the staff/PRM lane. | Claim: He was “dead-heading” (traveling as a passenger) and using the designated staff lane rightfully. |
| The Spark: Alleges the pilot cut the queue and called him “Anpadh” (uneducated). | The Spark: Claims Dewan used “abusive, degrading, and threatening language” against his ailing mother. |
| The Assault: Says the pilot thrashed him, leaving him with a bloodied face and a traumatized 7-year-old daughter. | The Defense: Admits to a physical altercation but claims he acted under provocation after threats were made to his wife and child. |
| The Settlement: Claims he was “forced” to sign a no-action letter to avoid missing his ₹1.2 lakh holiday. | The Settlement: Insists both parties “voluntarily signed” the statement in front of CISF without coercion. |
Ministry of Civil Aviation Intervenes
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has taken a stern view of the incident, regardless of the “personal” nature of the dispute.
Immediate Grounding: The Ministry directed Air India Express to remove Sejwal from flight duties immediately.
Formal Inquiry: A high-level probe involving the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the CISF has been ordered to examine CCTV footage and determine why security personnel did not prevent the escalation.
Aviation Safety: While Sejwal’s lawyers argue this was a “passenger vs. passenger” issue, aviation experts question if such a lack of restraint makes a pilot fit for the high-stress environment of a cockpit.
Airline & Police Response
- Air India Express: Issued a statement on Sunday “unequivocally condemning” the behavior. The airline confirmed Sejwal is off-duty pending an internal disciplinary inquiry.
- Delhi Police: Confirmed that no formal FIR has been lodged yet. “We are aware of the social media posts. Appropriate legal action will be taken once a written complaint is submitted by the victim,” a senior official stated.