Facing charges of child sex abuse, a Delta Airlines co-pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was arrested from the cockpit minutes after the flight landed in San Francisco on July 26, 2025. According to eyewitness accounts, law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft while passengers were still seated, entered the cockpit and handcuffed the co-pilot. After he was escorted off the plane, a team of officers returned to collect his personal belongings. A short video of this incident repeatedly surfaced on social media platforms and on news channels.
The arrest was made by deputies from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office, Bhagwagar was taken into custody as part of a broader investigation that began in April after a report of "sex crimes against a child.” The 6’3”, 220-pound Bhagwagar was detained in the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail set at $ 15 million (Rs 131.21 crore). His former girlfriend Jennifer Powell, 45, too was taken into custody for her involvement in the alleged sex crimes against her daughter from the age of six until 11 years. The charges in both complaints carry terms of 15 years to life in state prison, reported contracosta.ca.gov, the website of Contra Costa County, California.
Delta Airlines issued a statement: "Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement. We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.”
Rustom Bhagwagar (l) and Jennifer Powell
"Our office stands firmly committed to protecting children and holding those who cause harm accountable. Every child deserves to feel safe, protected and heard when an injustice like this occurs,” district attorney Diana Becton, the first woman and first African American to be elected district attorney in the history of Contra Costa County was quoted on contracosta.ca.gov. "It just reminds us that child abuse can occur in any community, to any child, to any family,” Carol Carrillo, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County was quoted on FoxLocal news. She urged residents to avail of the resources available to identify signs of child abuse and measures that could be adopted.
Parsiana’s enquiry with an executive of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America indicated that while Bhagwagar was originally from Florida and lived in Texas, "no Zoroastrians in those areas had heard of him.”