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Delta Pilot Arrested By Federal Agents After Landing Plane In San Francisco

Delta Air Lines Pilot Arrested on Child Sex Charges After Landing at San Francisco Airport

A Delta Air Lines pilot was taken into custody by federal agents on child sex charges shortly after landing at the San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, reportedly leaving both passengers and the plane’s lead pilot stunned.

Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, of Florida was arrested around 9:35 p.m. on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age, the Department of Homeland Security said Monday night.

Bhagwagar had been under investigation since April by detectives with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division, located northeast of San Francisco, after a report of sex crimes against a child was received, DHS said.

He was taken into custody by Sheriff’s Office detectives, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, and is being held on $5 million bail, authorities said.


The pilot was taken into custody Saturday on charges of child sexual abuse, according to a Homeland Security spokesperson.

A Homeland Security spokesperson previously told JS that he was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse material.

A Delta spokesperson told JS that the company has “zero tolerance for unlawful conduct” and that it 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,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Flight 2809 from Minneapolis had just landed at the airport when agents entered the plane.

Passengers reportedly weren’t told what had just happened, and the remaining pilot also told passengers that he had “no idea what just happened.”

One of Homeland Security Investigations’ priorities is combating the sexual exploitation of children.

“Anyone who commits depraved crimes against a child, including U.S. citizens, will face consequences,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for DHS, said in a statement.

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