Indian-American actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia was barred from boarding an Aeroméxico flight from Mexico City to New York because he refused to remove his turban.
Ahluwalia, who is famous for his role in Wes Anderson films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and for being the first Sikh man to model for Gap, was flying back to attend the New York Fashion Week.
"This morning in Mexico City, I was told I could not board my Aeroméxico flight to New York City because of my turban," Ahluwalia wrote on his Instagram account, along with a picture of him holding his boarding pass.
Four hours later, he posted another photograph in front of the Aeroméxico desk. "Dear NYC fashion week, I may be a little late as Aeroméxico won't let me fly with a turban. Don't start the show without me," he wrote.
His latest update from Mexico City at night read, "13 hours later. Still in Mexico City. No traveller should be subjected to what I was today. All we're asking for from Aeroméxico is an apology and education/training of the staff."
The 41-year-old is the founder of the jewellery label House of Waris. His dapper dressing has often earned him the title of being one of the best-dressed men in the world. Besides starring in The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel, he's also played a character who was subjected to racial profiling because of his turban in Spike Lee's film Inside Man. Ahluwalia later spoke about the incident in this video.
The incident drew the attention of the fashion world and also began trending on Twitter in India.
#MCM goes to @house_of_waris who is fly as eff even without a boarding passhttps://t.co/MtHiDPGGOJ— Lilly Singh (@IISuperwomanII) February 8, 2016
Very upsetting to read! Get home safe @HOUSE_of_WARIS! #CFDAMembers https://t.co/NMiVYzte6L
— CFDA (@CFDA) February 8, 2016
apparently waris ahluwalia, hollywood actor and model, was refused to board on his flight because of his turbanpic.twitter.com/86svM1QOmz— Jasmeet Singh (@JusReign) February 8, 2016
Aeroméxico, which is the largest airline in Mexico, issued a statement on Feb. 8, saying that it was was committed to carrying all passengers irrespective of religion or gender. However, it added that it was "required to meet federal safety requirements determined by the Air Transport Authority of the United States for review of selected passengers travelling to the United States" and that "it regrets the inconvenience that any passenger may perceive from the application of these procedures."
The civil rights group Sikh Coalition, which is representing Ahluwalia's case, said that he will spend Monday night in Mexico City. It has also demanded a public apology from the airlines, along with staff training on how to screen passengers with religious headgear.
Update: Waris will stay in Mexico City tonight as @AeroMexico fails to accommodate his civil rights. #StandWithWaris pic.twitter.com/M72onZRFHi— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) February 9, 2016