Sikh Actor Waris Ahluwalia is finally on his way home after being banned from an AeroMexico flight for refusing to remove his turban at security.
“Heading home this morning,” he captioned a photo on Instagram. “Thank you @aeromexico for understanding the importance of religious and cultural tolerance. I am happy we are able to work together to come up with a resolution. #lovenotfear #fearisanopportunitytoeducate.”
The actor wrote via social media on Monday that his first-class boarding pass featured a marking that subjected him to a special secondary security screening. Once at the gate, he was taken aside, searched, swabbed and patted down, but he refused to remove his turban.
After being denied a private screening, he was told that he could not get on the plane — or on any other AeroMexico flight — until he complied with the security procedures.
Ahluwalia refused to leave Mexico City more than 24 hours after the incident. The “Grand Budapest Hotel” star explained to Amanpour that he turned down alternate flights from both AeroMexico and other airlines because he saw this as a teaching opportunity.
On Tuesday, the airline apologized on its website, stating that “this case motivates us to ensure that security personnel strengthen its care protocols, always respecting the cultural and religious values of customers.”
Ahluwalia called the apology a “brilliant first step.”
See his new Instagram post below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBm_TsugTBc/