Air India pilot Captain Virendra Sejwal’s clarification came, Ankit Diwan had accused of attack

New Delhi. Air India Express pilot Captain Virendra Sejwal has clarified the allegations of physical attack against him regarding the dispute that took place at Terminal-1 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). A day after the allegations were made by SpiceJet passenger Ankit Dewan, Captain Sejwal claimed that Dewan made casteist remarks against him and made unimaginable threats against his female family members and even a child.

Air India Express, in a statement issued on behalf of Captain Sejwal, said that presenting this incident as ‘pilot vs passenger’ in social and news media is a one-sided and incomplete portrayal of facts. The airline clarified that Captain Sejwal was not on duty at the time and the incident was a personal dispute between two passengers, which had no connection with their professional duties.

Ankit Dewan had alleged that he was traveling with his family and four-month-old child and the airport staff had directed him to go through the PRM and staff security check, during which the dispute took place. At the same time, the airline’s statement said that Dewan started verbally abusing Captain Sejwal without any provocation, which later turned into a scuffle. Captain Sejwal also got injured in this clash.

According to the statement, CISF personnel present at the spot immediately intervened and asked Dewan to calm down, but he did not agree. Later the matter was resolved with the help of CISF and both the parties agreed not to take any further action. Air India Express said an internal investigation into the matter would be conducted next week, although the company also said it was unfair to link this personal incident to the airline and appeared to be merely an attempt to garner attention on social media.