Sikh actor barred from US-bound flight, calls it opportunity to 'challenge ignorance'

Indian-American actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia, who was barred from boarding an Aeromexico flight from Mexico City to New York because he refused to remove his turban, today said that it was an opportunity to challenge fear and ignorance.

"Today in Mexico city, about 18 hours ago, when Aeromexico refused to let me board the plane with my turban represents an opportunity to challenge fear, an opportunity to challenge ignorance, opportunity to educate, and to do so with love. And that's exactly what we're going to do," he told ANI.

Ahluwalia was en-route to New York fashion week when Aeromexico staff refused to let him board the plane he refused to remove his turban.

The 41-year-old actor posted a picture of himself holding up his boarding pass and another in front of an Aeromexico customer service desk.

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.