NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Contra Costa County, CA, July 30, 2025: The widening investigation into a Delta Air Lines co‑pilot accused of child sex abuse has led to the arrest of his former girlfriend, who prosecutors say participated in the alleged crimes against her own daughter.
Jennifer Powell, 45, was taken into custody this week and charged alongside Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, a Delta co‑pilot dramatically arrested on July 26 after landing at San Francisco International Airport. Powell is accused of allowing — and at times joining in — the abuse that prosecutors allege began when her daughter was just six years old and continued for several years.
Bhagwagar faces 24 felony counts, including aggravated sexual assault and lewd acts on a child under 10. Powell faces related charges involving participation in the abuse. According to charging documents, the incidents occurred between 2018 and 2023 in Contra Costa County.
Authorities say Powell not only knew about the abuse but actively participated in it. Both defendants are being held at the Martinez Detention Facility; Bhagwagar’s bail is set at $15 million, while Powell’s bail has not yet been disclosed.
The pilot’s arrest — carried out by Homeland Security Investigations agents and Contra Costa County deputies who boarded his plane minutes after arrival from Minneapolis — shocked passengers and made national headlines. Delta Air Lines has suspended Bhagwagar and issued a statement condemning unlawful conduct.
Both defendants are scheduled for arraignment on July 30. If convicted, they could each face lengthy prison sentences, including terms of 15 years to life.
