The Arrested Indian American Delta Co-Pilot’s Ex-Girlfriend Also Taken Into Custody

SAN FRANCISCO (TIP) : A Delta Airlines co-pilot was arrested moments after landing at San Francisco International Airport over the weekend, in connection with alleged child sexual assault charges.

The Indian-origin suspect, Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was taken into custody by agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest occurred just 10 minutes after Delta Flight 2809, a Boeing 757-300 from Minneapolis, touched down at SFO.

According to eyewitnesses, at least 10 federal and local officers boarded the aircraft immediately after it arrived at the gate, moved quickly through the cabin, and entered the cockpit. There, Bhagwagar was handcuffed and escorted off the plane while passengers were still preparing to disembark.

One passenger told the San Francisco Chronicle: “The officers were pushing their way through the aisle with badges, guns, and different agency vests. They went straight into the cockpit and took him out in cuffs.”

Authorities said Bhagwagar’s co-pilot was unaware of the impending arrest, a precaution taken to prevent any chance of tipping off the suspect.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Bhagwagar had been under investigation since April 2025, following a report involving suspected crimes against a child. A Ramey arrest warrant — issued before formal charges — was later secured.

According to a statement posted on the sheriff’s official Facebook page, Bhagwagar is facing five felony counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility, with bail set at $5 million.

In a statement to the media, Delta Air Lines said: “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and is fully cooperating with law enforcement. The individual in question has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.”

The widening investigation into a Delta Air Lines co‑pilot accused of child sex abuse has led to the arrest of his former girlfriend, who prosecutors say participated in the alleged crimes against her own daughter.

Jennifer Powell, 45, was taken into custody this week and charged alongside Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, a Delta co‑pilot dramatically arrested on July 26 after landing at San Francisco International Airport. Powell is accused of allowing — and at times joining in — the abuse that prosecutors allege began when her daughter was just six years old and continued for several years.

Bhagwagar faces 24 felony counts, including aggravated sexual assault and lewd acts on a child under 10. Powell faces related charges involving participation in the abuse. According to charging documents, the incidents occurred between 2018 and 2023 in Contra Costa County.

Authorities say Powell not only knew about the abuse but actively participated in it. Both defendants are being held at the Martinez Detention Facility; Bhagwagar’s bail is set at $15 million, while Powell’s bail has not yet been disclosed.

The pilot’s arrest — carried out by Homeland Security Investigations agents and Contra Costa County deputies who boarded his plane minutes after arrival from Minneapolis — shocked passengers and made national headlines. Delta Air Lines has suspended Bhagwagar and issued a statement condemning unlawful conduct.

Both defendants are scheduled for arraignment on July 30. If convicted, they could each face lengthy prison sentences, including terms of 15 years to life.