New Delhi, 20 December (H.S.): Delhi Police stated on Saturday that they have received no formal complaint regarding the alleged assault on a passenger by an off-duty Air India Express pilot at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 1 the previous day.

The incident, which surfaced via social media, stemmed from a heated dispute over queue-jumping at a security checkpoint designated for staff and passengers with special needs.

Passenger Ankit Dewan, traveling with his wife, seven-year-old daughter, and four-month-old infant in a stroller, claimed airport staff directed his family to use the staff security lane on Friday, December 19. He objected when several staff members, including Captain Virender Sejwal of Air India Express—who was off-duty and boarding a SpiceJet flight—allegedly cut the line ahead of them.

Dewan recounted that Sejwal verbally abused him, calling him anpadh (illiterate), before escalating to physical violence that left him with a bloodied face and shirt, deeply traumatizing his young daughter who witnessed the attack.

In a detailed post on platform X accompanied by graphic photos of his injuries, Dewan alleged authorities delayed first aid for 45 minutes and pressured him to sign a no-complaint undertaking to board his Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight. The blood on his shirt is mine, Dewan emphasized, highlighting stains on the pilot's uniform as evidence.

Air India Express swiftly condemned the behavior as unacceptable, confirming on Friday that Captain Sejwal had been removed from flying duties with immediate effect pending a thorough internal investigation and disciplinary action.

Police affirmed awareness of the viral post but noted no report from Dewan or the airline at IGI Airport Police Station, promising appropriate legal steps upon receiving a written complaint, including CCTV review.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar