Mumbai, India: A 25-year-old commercial pilot was arrested by Mumbai Police for allegedly raping a 23-year-old air hostess at his residence in Mira Road, Maharashtra. The accused and the survivor were both employed by a London-based private airline and had returned to Mumbai after a long-haul international flight.
According to the Navghar Police, the incident took place on the night of June 30. Following their return from duty, the pilot and the air hostess met for dinner. The complaint states that the accused allegedly took the woman to his apartment in Mira Road, where he sexually assaulted her while she was under the influence of alcohol.
The survivor initially did not approach the authorities due to alleged threats. She later lodged a formal complaint on July 18 at the Navghar police station. Based on her statement, an FIR was registered under Sections 69 and 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which correspond to rape and related offences under the previous Indian Penal Code.
The accused was apprehended at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on July 19, just as he was preparing to board a flight to Hong Kong. Authorities stated that the pilot had secured a visa and had been hired by an airline based in Hong Kong. Police believe he intended to leave the country to evade arrest following the filing of the complaint.
Upon arrest, the accused was produced in court and remanded to police custody until July 22. Investigating officers are examining mobile data, communications between the two individuals, location records, and any available CCTV footage. Forensic samples have also been collected to support the investigation.
As of now, the name of the employing airline has not been disclosed by authorities. No official statement has been released by the company in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing.
