Harrowing new details emerge after Delta pilot was arrested just moments after plane landed

People flying on a Delta flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco were left stunned and deeply unsettled when a dramatic and unexpected event unfolded just after their plane landed.

As passengers were preparing to get off the plane like any normal flight, several law enforcement officers suddenly boarded the aircraft. According to one eyewitness, as many as ten federal agents moved quickly and directly toward the cockpit. Without giving much explanation, they entered the front of the plane, grabbed one of the pilots—specifically, the co-pilot—and escorted him out of the cockpit in handcuffs.

The man being arrested was later identified as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar, a resident of Florida and a co-pilot working for Delta Airlines. This wasn’t just a case of mistaken identity or a routine questioning. Authorities confirmed that the arrest had been carefully planned as part of a larger investigation into very serious crimes. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, which had been investigating since April, said Bhagwagar was suspected of committing multiple sexual crimes involving a child under the age of ten. According to their statement, they had obtained an arrest warrant after receiving a report of these alleged crimes months earlier. They later discovered that Bhagwagar was an airline pilot and made arrangements to arrest him as soon as he landed in San Francisco.

Officials from Homeland Security worked closely with the sheriff’s office to carry out the arrest. They waited for his plane to arrive on the night of Saturday, July 26, and boarded it at around 9:35 p.m. The scene was intense, unexpected, and terrifying for many of the passengers who had no idea what was going on. One woman on the flight, named Sarah, later shared her experience in an interview. She described how the agents burst onto the plane, stormed the cockpit, and walked the pilot down the aisle in handcuffs. She said it all happened so fast that people barely had time to react. After getting off the plane and meeting her husband at baggage claim, she said she broke down in tears. She was shaken not just by the sudden arrest but also by the heavy, disturbing feeling that someone who had been responsible for flying their plane might have committed such terrible acts.

Sarah and other passengers said that even the flight attendants and the remaining pilot seemed confused and caught off guard. None of the crew members appeared to have known about the arrest in advance. There was a visible sense of disbelief and distress among everyone onboard, including the staff.

Following the arrest, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin made a public statement, thanking all the agencies involved and harshly criticizing the suspect. She called the crimes depraved and emphasized that protecting children is a top priority. She added that no one, including U.S. citizens in positions of responsibility, is above the law. She also linked the administration’s commitment to protecting children to ongoing efforts by national leaders, stating that both President Trump and Secretary Noem would continue to support strong actions against child exploitation.

Delta Airlines responded to the incident with a statement of their own. They expressed shock over the nature of the charges and said the co-pilot had been suspended while the investigation was underway. The airline reiterated that it does not tolerate any kind of illegal behavior and said it would cooperate fully with law enforcement as they gathered more information.

Authorities said Bhagwagar has been formally booked into the Martinez Detention Facility in Contra Costa County. He is facing five charges of oral copulation with a child under the age of ten and is currently being held with a bail amount set at $5 million. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and encouraged anyone with information to contact them through a phone number or anonymous tip line.

The entire event left a strong emotional impact on the people who witnessed it. What started as an ordinary flight quickly turned into something far more disturbing and unforgettable. The passengers had trusted the flight crew with their safety, and now they were forced to grapple with the idea that one of them might have been involved in horrifying crimes. The full truth is still being investigated, but the shock and trauma of that night will likely stay with many of those passengers for a long time.