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Featured Image Credit: Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office
Topics: Delta Airlines, Crime, US News, Florida
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: Delta Airlines, Crime, US News, Florida
New details have emerged regarding the alleged crimes a pilot committed as he was arrested not long after landing a plane
One of the pilots on a Delta Flight 2809 on July 26 was arrested after completing his journey from Minneapolis to San Francisco.
Federal agents reportedly stormed the aircraft upon its landing and arrested the co-pilot. He has since been named as 34-year-old Florida resident Rustom Bhagwagar.
One passenger claimed as many as ten agents were on hand to arrest him. At the time, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Francisco told the San Francisco Chronicle that they'd assisted local officials in executing an arrest warrant.
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They further described it as 'an ongoing local investigation with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office'.
Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented on the arrest and said that Bhagwagar was arrested on suspicion of sexual crimes involving a minor.
She also issued a statement condemning Bhagwagar following his arrest.
She said: “Thanks to DHS’ partnership with Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Office this [alleged] pedophile is behind bars.
“Anyone who commits depraved crimes against a child, including U.S. citizens, will face consequences. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to protect children from exploitation and abuse.”
Addressing the matter, a spokesperson for Delta Airlines said in a statement to UNILAD: "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."
Some of the passengers of the plane journey have commented their shock at watching the arrest unfold.
A passenger called Sarah told ABC7: "[Agents] barged through and stormed the cockpit. They removed the co-pilot, cuffed him, presumably arrested him, and brought him back down the aisle to deplane."
"It was scary. It was traumatic to watch," Sarah went on. "As soon as my husband picked me up from baggage claim, I jumped in the car and cried. Because who knows what's happening to that poor person? Why that happened? What did we just see?"
Some of the witnesses also said that the other pilot and cabin crew looked equally stunned and confused at the arrest taking place.
UNILAD has approached HSI San Francisco for comment.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: "Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division have been conducting an investigation since April 2025 after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child. An arrest warrant was later secured for the suspect.
"Through the investigation, it was learned that the suspect was an airline pilot and that he was due to fly into San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Saturday, July 26, 2025.
"At about 9:35 PM, Sheriff’s Office detectives, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, boarded the plane to arrest the suspect who is identified as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: [email protected] or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org.