Delta Air Lines co-pilot arrested by Homeland Security on charges of child sexual abuse material
Law enforcement officials reportedly stormed cockpit and escorted crew member off plane as passengers watched in shock
A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was arrested in San Francisco, California, by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents on charges of child sexual abuse material, a senior federal source confirmed to Fox News.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida was arrested on Saturday night and charged with five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10.
Detectives with the department's investigation division had been conducting an investigation into Bhagwagar since April, after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child.
During the investigation, detectives learned Bhagwagar was an airline pilot and that he was expected to fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Saturday night.
Federal agents arrested the co-pilot of a Delta Air Lines flight to San Francisco International Airport on Saturday night. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
With assistance from HSI agents, detectives boarded the plane to arrest Bhagwagar.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the flight from Minneapolis landed around 9:35 p.m. after being delayed on approach twice due to heavy fog.
Once the plane parked at the terminal gate, passengers began to exit normally until chaos ensued.
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Rustom Bhagwagar was arrested in the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines plane on June 26, 2025, for alleged sex crimes against a child. (Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office / Fox News)
One passenger, Sarah Christianson, told the publication in an email that a group of about 10 individuals with "badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings" pushed their way up the aisle to the cockpit, where the co-pilot was located.
They then "stormed the cockpit" before arresting the co-pilot, later identified as Bhagwagar, and walking him down the aisle and off the plane through cabin doors between Coach and First-Class sections of the aircraft, she explained to the publication.
The aviation blog, "A View From the Wing" shared video of the incident showing law enforcement leaving the cockpit area of the plane.
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Delta Air Lines responded to the charges in a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday.
"Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement," the statement read. "We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation."
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Bhagwagar was ultimately booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. Bail has been set at $5 million.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding Bhagwagar is encouraged to contact the investigation division at 925-313-2600, or by emailing tips@so.cccounty.us.