New Delhi, India - April 27, 2024—In a bizarre turn of events, security officials at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) apprehended a 24-year-old man for impersonating a Singapore Airlines pilot.
Sangeet Singh, an Indian national, was spotted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) while strolling confidently through the terminal, clad in a complete Singapore Airlines pilot uniform. Despite his attempt to appear legitimate, Singh's lack of genuine credentials quickly exposed his elaborate scheme.
UP man caught in IGI Airport posing as Singapore Airlines Pilot. So glad he got caught. 🙏🙏HC Wong#SingaporeAirlines #DelhiAirport #CISF
— Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) April 26, 2024
(📷:@ndtv) pic.twitter.com/AL48GblzRh
Grounded Dreams:
Singh's most relevant aviation experience amounted to a year-long Aviation Hospitality course completed in Mumbai in 2020. His repetitive movements within the airport raised suspicion among CISF personnel, leading to his eventual detainment.
Facing Charges:
Singh is currently facing criminal charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to:
- Section 420: Deceit and Dishonesty
- Section 468: Forgery for the Purpose of Cheating
- Section 471: Using a Forged Document as Genuine
Upon inspection, his pilot ID was confirmed as a fake. He further admitted to purchasing the uniform from a store in Dwarka, raising questions about the accessibility of such restricted clothing.
Not an Isolated Incident:
This incident highlights a concerning trend within the airline industry. In 2019, Delhi witnessed a similar case where a man impersonating a Lufthansa pilot attempted to bypass airport security lines.
Double Trouble:
Rajan Mahbubani, the impersonator in the 2019 case, reached gate 52 in terminal 3 before his charade unraveled. While waiting for a Kolkata-bound AirAsia flight, his suspicious behavior triggered an alert, leading to Lufthansa confirming his false identity and deploying security to detain him.
The recent incident involving Sangeet Singh serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals might go to to bypass security protocols. Authorities are likely to remain vigilant in light of these recurring cases.