Delta Co-Pilot Rustom Bhagwagar Arrested On Plane On Child Sex Charges

India-West News Desk

SAN FRANCISCO, CA –A Delta Airlines co-pilot was arrested on July 26 at San Francisco International Airport in connection with an ongoing child sex abuse investigation, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida, was taken into custody shortly after landing a commercial flight from Minneapolis.

Bhagwagar faces five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years old and is currently being held at Martinez Detention Facility on $5 million bail.

In a statement posted to Facebook, the sheriff’s office revealed that its Investigation Division had been looking into Bhagwagar since April 2025, following a report of alleged sex crimes against a child.

Investigators obtained a Ramey warrant—which allows for arrest before formal charges are filed under California law—after gathering sufficient evidence and learning of Bhagwagar’s travel schedule.

On July 26, as Delta Flight 2809 landed at SFO, deputies coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations to board the plane and make the arrest without alerting the suspect in advance. Viral footage taken by passengers shows law enforcement entering the cockpit and escorting Bhagwagar off the plane in handcuffs.

“They stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane,” one passenger told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Delta Airlines issued a public statement on July 28, saying: “We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation. Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement.”

According to the sheriff’s office, the other pilot on board had not been informed of the arrest plan in advance in order to avoid tipping off Bhagwagar. The investigation remains ongoing.

Photo: Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department