Delta Pilot Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child Identified

SAN FRANCISCO — The Delta pilot who was arrested Saturday night upon landing at San Francisco International Airport has been identified and charged with sexually assaulting a young child, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities identified the man Monday as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida. He is charged with five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 and is being held in lieu of $5 million bail at the Martinez Detention Facility, police said.

Federal agents stormed the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 shortly after it touched down Saturday, according to the airline and video posted to social media by passengers. The arrest occurred around 9:35 p.m. and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security assisted sheriff’s detectives as they boarded the plane to take Bhagwagar into custody, police said.

The investigation that led to Bhagwagar’s arrest has been ongoing since April, after the sheriff’s office received a report of sex crimes against a child, according to police.

Bhagwagar is a former San Ramon resident, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at 925-313-2600. For any tips, email tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.