They could have waited in the airport and arrested him as he leaves!

Typical American law enforcement!

Make a drama out of everything!

https://www.sfchronicle.com/ba...rrested-20789701.php

Delta co-pilot arrested at SFO identified, faces child sex assault charges

By Aidin Vaziri,
Staff Writer
Updated July 28, 2025 2:00 p.m.

The Delta co-pilot arrested at San Francisco International Airport appeared to be a former San Ramon resident, records show.


The Delta Air Lines co-pilot arrested Saturday night after landing at San Francisco International Airport was identified Monday as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said in a statement that investigators had been pursuing a case against Bhagwagar since April after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child. Officials did not provide additional details about the investigation.


Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and, with the help of Homeland Security Investigations, took Bhagwagar into custody aboard Delta Flight 2809 from Minneapolis shortly after it arrived at SFO around 9:35 p.m. Saturday.


A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations in San Francisco previously confirmed that the agency assisted local officials in executing the arrest warrant and described it as “an ongoing local investigation with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.”

Bhagwagar was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on five counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. He is being held on $5 million bail.

Federal Aviation Administration records reviewed by the Chronicle show Bhagwagar is licensed to fly a Boeing 757-300, the same aircraft model used on Flight 2809. Law enforcement boarded the plane minutes after it landed, and multiple passengers witnessed the dramatic arrest.

During Saturday’s arrest, at least 10 armed law enforcement officers, including air marshals and HSI agents, boarded the aircraft and entered the cockpit to detain Bhagwagar, according to a passenger in first class who emailed the Chronicle about what they witnessed.

“They stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach,” the passenger wrote.



Delta said in a statement that the company had “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.”

Court records show Bhagwagar has prior residential ties to San Ramon, Texas and Florida. A court date has not yet been disclosed.

July 28, 2025|Updated July 28, 2025 2:00 p.m.

Arresting him for a crime is great.

But WHY in the plane with armed men?

Could just as easily taken in custody as gets into the airport!

They must have been worried that he knew it was coming and might try to escape.

I agree it sure seems like overkill otherwise.