Content warning: This article describes child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.
The ex-girlfriend of a Delta pilot arrested in San Francisco on child abuse charges, with passengers still on board his plane, has also now been arrested, accused of being aware, watching, and even participating in her daughter’s abuse.
Jennifer Powell, 45, from California, was taken into custody by Contra Costa County authorities and charged with the same 24 felony counts as her former partner, Delta Air Lines co-pilot Rustom Bhagwagar. The charges stem from a harrowing investigation that alleges both Powell and Bhagwagar, from Florida, engaged in prolonged and repeated abuse of Powell’s daughter between 2018 and 2023. Powell was reportedly in a relationship with Bhagwagar during the period in question.
Bhagwagar’s arrest
NEW: The ex-girlfriend of the Delta co-pilot accused of s*xually abusing her underage daughter joined him in the abuse, prosecutors say
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) July 30, 2025
Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was arrested after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Delta Flight 2809 from Minneapolis
Bhagwagar has… pic.twitter.com/w6OTEHePCP
Bhagwagar, 34, was arrested on July 26, 2025, after landing a Delta flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco International Airport. Federal agents and sheriff’s deputies boarded the aircraft while passengers were still seated and removed him from the cockpit. According to officials, the dramatic arrest followed months of investigation after authorities received a tip in April about suspected child sexual abuse involving a Bay Area child.
According to California news outlet KTVU, court documents state that Powell’s daughter, who did not reside with her full-time, was the victim. Both Powell and Bhagwagar are accused of multiple instances of abuse over five years. A recorded phone call orchestrated by law enforcement allegedly captured Bhagwagar making incriminating statements, with Powell present or participating in the conversation, further implicating her in the case.
The current status of the case
Bhagwagar is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on $15 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 30. Powell is also being held at the same facility on $15 million bail. Both face similar charges, including lewd acts with a child under the age of 10. If convicted, they face potential sentences of 15 years to life in prison under California law.
Delta Air Lines has responded by confirming that Bhagwagar has been suspended from duty and emphasized the airline’s zero-tolerance stance for unlawful behavior by employees. “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement,” the airline said in a statement, adding, “We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest, and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.”
Authorities have not released further information about the condition of the child, who is now in protective custody. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing and may expand as more evidence is reviewed. Prosecutors described the case as one of the most serious and disturbing child abuse cases they’ve encountered, stressing that full accountability will be pursued through the courts.
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673
