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- Delta pilot faces child sex assault charges after post-flight arrest</p>
<p>James Powel and Michelle Del Rey , USA TODAY July 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM</p>
<p>A Delta Air Lines pilot that was taken into custody after landing at San Francisco International Airport was arrested on child sexual assault charges, authorities said.</p>
<p>Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was booked on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age, according to a statement provided to USA TODAY by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office on July 28.</p>
<p>The statement said the arrest stemmed from an ongoing investigation that began with a report of "sex crimes against a child" made in April.</p>
<p>County records show that Bhagwagar was arrested on July 26 and is being held in lieu of $5 million bail.</p>
<p>It was unclear if Bhagwagar had legal representation, as of Monday afternoon, July 28, and an initial court date was not listed in the county record.</p>
<p>Videos shared online and published by travel outlet View from the Wing showed officers walking down the aisle of flight 2809 after its arrival at San Francisco International Airport. The plane landed at approximately 9:35 p.m. the day of the arrest after a delay for heavy fog, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.</p>
<p>Delta said in a statement that Bhagwagar had been suspended, pending investigation, and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement.</p>
<p>"We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest," the airline said.</p>
<p>Charges bring clarity to scrutinized arrest</p>
<p>The incident drew scrutiny as the nature of the arrest was not immediately clear prior to the statement from the sheriff's office.</p>
<p>Hira Zhahir, a Homeland Security Investigations public affairs officer, told USA TODAY July 28 that the department was not the lead agency on the arrest, saying, "HSI was assisting Contra Costa Sherriff's office with an arrest warrant."</p>
<p>Footage taken on the plane and published by View from the Wing shows some of the officers wearing plainclothes and badges. It is unclear from the footage if the officers were masked.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delta pilot Rustom Bhagwagar faces child assault charges after arrest</p>
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