Legal/Law/Criminal Justice and Reform

Feds Reportedly Bust Into Plane Cockpit To Arrest Pilot On Child Rape Charges

(Photo via Miguel Ángel Sanz / Unsplash)

Federal agents entered a Delta plane in San Francisco as soon as it landed on Saturday night to arrest a co-pilot on child rape charges, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS officials made the arrest after a flight from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the San Francisco International Airport, The Guardian, ABC7, and other media outlets reported. The DHS confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) branch made the arrest on charges of “CSAM,” or child sex abuse material, but later clarified that the suspect was booked in a local jail on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age and the investigation is ongoing.

“Thanks to DHS’ partnership with Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office this pedophile is behind bars,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told the DCNF. “Anyone who commits depraved crimes against a child, including U.S. citizens, will face consequences. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to protect children from exploitation and abuse.”

Detectives from the sheriff’s office and HSI agents made their way onto the plane on Saturday night to arrest Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, of Florida. Bhagwagar is being held on $5 million bond, the DHS said. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

Federal agents “stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach,” a witness told The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement,” Delta told the DCNF. “We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.”

The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.