An Indian-origin Delta Air Lines co-pilot, identified as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar, was arrested at San Francisco International Airport just 10 minutes after his flight landed on Sunday morning (27). The dramatic arrest took place around 7:05 AM IST, moments after Delta Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300 from Minneapolis, arrived at the gate.
According to reports and witness accounts, a team of 10 agents from the Department of Homeland Security swiftly boarded the plane as it parked, immediately moving to the cockpit to apprehend Bhagwagar while passengers were still preparing to deplane.
Agents from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations collaborated in executing the arrest, taking special care not to alert the co-pilot beforehand out of concern that he might warn Bhagwagar, thus giving him an opportunity to escape.
Authorities revealed that the arrest stemmed from an ongoing investigation that began in April 2025, after detectives from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office received a report of sex crimes against a minor child. Following weeks of investigation, including evidence collection and witness interviews, an arrest warrant was obtained for Bhagwagar. He was subsequently identified as the prime suspect in a case involving five counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 10.
Bhagwagar was immediately taken to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he is being held on $5 million bail. His co-pilot expressed shock at the arrest, stating that he had no forewarning from authorities about the operation.
The swift and public nature of the arrest underscores the seriousness with which law enforcement handled the allegations. Authorities emphasized that the safety and well-being of children are paramount, and Delta Air Lines has said it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
