Korean woman assaulted at Bengaluru airport, ground staff arrested

A Korean woman was assaulted at Bengaluru airport by staffer Mohammed Affan during a fake pat-down. Security detained him; police arrested and are investigating

A shocking incident at Kempegowda International Airport has led to the arrest of a ground staff member accused of sexually assaulting a Korean passenger under the guise of a security check.

The incident took place on January 19, when the woman was preparing to board a flight to Korea. After clearing immigration, she was approached by Mohammed Affan, an employee of Air India SATS, which handles ground and cargo services at the airport. Affan allegedly asked to see her ticket and claimed there was a problem with her check-in luggage, saying it had triggered a beep.

According to the complaint, Affan told her that returning to the regular screening counter would take too long and might cause her to miss her flight. He then insisted on conducting a separate pat-down check. Leading her near the men’s washroom, he allegedly touched her inappropriately despite her objections. When she resisted, he reportedly hugged her, said “thank you,” and walked away.

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The distressed passenger immediately alerted airport security. Personnel acted swiftly, detaining Affan and handing him over to the police. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage, which corroborated the woman’s account. Based on her complaint, the airport police registered a case and formally arrested the accused.

The incident has sparked outrage, raising concerns about passenger safety and the conduct of ground staff at one of India’s busiest airports. Authorities have confirmed that further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the misconduct and ensure accountability.

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