US-Based Sikh Actor Not Allowed to Board a Plane, Alleges Racism

A US-based actor and designer of Indian origin, Waris Ahluwalia, was allegedly denied entry into an Aeromexico flight because of his appearance and attire.

Ahluwalia, 41, based in Manhattan, said he checked in at the Aeromexico airline’s counter at Mexico City’s international airport at about 5:30 am on Monday. He was given his first-class boarding pass with code ‘SSSS’, which he said meant that he needed secondary security screening.

When Ahluwalia showed up at the gate to board Flight 408 to New York City, attendants told him that he needed to step aside and wait for other passengers to board.