A Sikh Indian-American actor and designer
said Monday that he was barred from boarding an Aeromexico flight from
Mexico
City to New York because he refused to remove his turban.
“This morning in Mexico City I was told I could not board my @aeromexico
flight to NYC because of my turban,” Waris Ahluwalia wrote in his Instagram
account.
The 41-year-old bearded actor posted a picture of himself holding up his
boarding pass and another in front of an Aeromexico customer service desk.
The
House of Waris chief was heading to New York’s fashion week.
“Dear NYC fashion week. I may be a little late as @aeromexico won’t let
me
fly with a turban. Don’t start the show without me,” he added.
The Mexican airline issued a statement late Monday saying that it was
obligated to follow “federal requirements in terms of security determined by
the US Transportation Security Administration to review passengers.”
The airline said it “regrets the inconvenience that any passenger may
perceive from the application of these procedures” and it vowed to transport
all passengers regardless of their religious beliefs.
As an actor, Ahluwalia appeared in the Oscar-nominated film “The Grand
Budapest Hotel” and the US television series “The Carrie Diaries.” He also
has
model
l
ed for clothier Gap.
(AFP)