A 34-year-old co-pilot of Indian origin working for Delta Air Lines was arrested on July 26, 2025, at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in connection with alleged sex crimes against a child.
The suspect, identified as Rustom Bhagwagar, a Florida resident, had just completed a flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco when he was taken into custody approximately 10 minutes after landing.
According to a statement from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, on July 28, detectives from its Investigation Division began a probe in April 2025 following a report of sex crimes involving a minor. Based on the findings, authorities obtained a Ramey arrest warrant for Bhagwagar.
During the course of the investigation, officials discovered that Bhagwagar was an airline pilot and was scheduled to land at SFO on the evening of Saturday, July 26.
“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,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. At approximately 9:35 p.m., Sheriff’s Office detectives, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, boarded the aircraft and arrested the suspect.
Bhagwagar was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility and is facing five felony charges of “oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age.” He is currently being held on $5 million bail.
In response to the arrest, Delta Air Lines released a statement saying, “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.”
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600, email tips@so.cccounty.us, or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous message.
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