Sikh man blocked by Mexican airline satisfied with apology

Waris Ahluwalia, American Sikh actor and designer, was barred from boarding a flight home to NY from Mexico on refusing to remove his turban during a security check.

After they did, his feet and bag were searched and swabbed, he was told to remove a sweatshirt and he was patted down.

Then, he said, he was asked to take off his turban.

In reference to the incident, the airline said in a statement that personnel asked Ahluwahlia to “submit to screening and inspection before boarding, in strict compliance with TSA protocol”. “I thought it was an evacuation or something, so I didn’t think nothing of it, but then she told me to take my bags and when I went back into the plane I saw I was the only one standing”, one of the four said.

Ahluwalia did not agree to remove the dastar without a private screening room, which Aeromexico staff refused to provide.

STEFANIA D’ALESSANDRO Actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia said he was wrongfully pulled from a plane.

The turban is part of the required dress for Sikh men.

He posted a picture of the ticket on his Instagram account.

Actor Waris Ahluwalia was prohibited from boarding a New York-bound Aeromexico flight on Monday morning after he refused to take off his turban for a security check in a public area.

Mr Ahluwalia, who checked in to the flight at Mexico City’s global terminal about 5.30am on Monday, received his boarding pass and a code which instructed he needed secondary screening.

Many Sikhs said they were targeted by attackers who mistakenly thought they were Muslims due to their religious dress.

It gave no further details but added that it regretted the inconvenience.

The airline offered Ahluwalia a seat on another flight, but he turned it down, according to NY magazine. As a Sikh model, that was the first time he debuted in an advertisement which was exhibited all over the U.S. Racist graffiti soon defaced a few advertisements.

“I’m afraid if I leave, this can happen again to someone else”, he said.

In 2013, Ahluwalia became the first Sikh to be featured in a national Gap ad, NBCNews.com said.

“I was flying as a guest of Aero Mexico”, he said, explaining that the trip was intended for him to visit a Mexican arts fair, where he could meet artists and experience Mexican culture.