Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh Misses US Flight After Alleged Harassment by Air India Staff

• Apr 25, 2025

Former Akal Takht Jathedar and current Head Granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Raghbir Singh, missed his flight to the United States on Thursday following an alleged incident of mistreatment by Air India ground staff at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Giani Raghbir Singh was scheduled to fly to San Francisco on Air India flight AI 183 to attend a religious event in Sacramento. He was accompanied by his son and another family member. Despite attempts to reach Air India for a comment, the airline has not issued any response.

The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Giani Gargaj urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister to intervene and take action against the airline staff involved.

“The position of the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple commands great respect. Airport authorities and central agencies should ensure such dignitaries are treated with appropriate regard,” Giani Gargaj stated.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the SGPC’s Sikh Mission in Delhi had been directed to raise the matter with the relevant authorities.

In a statement, Giani Raghbir Singh recounted that after boarding the flight, he and several other passengers raised concerns over the poor condition of the business class seating and lack of cleanliness.

“When we complained, the airline staff responded rudely, even though the flight captain remained polite,” he said. He claimed that, in protest, he and other passengers voluntarily deboarded the plane.

They then waited for over three hours near the immigration counter without food or water, hoping for a response from the airline. “No Air India official came to speak with us,” he said in a social media post.

He added that retrieving their passports and luggage from immigration authorities was another struggle, ultimately causing them to miss the flight. Giani Raghbir Singh said he plans to formally lodge a complaint about the incident.

He also noted that another female passenger, traveling with a child, faced similar treatment when she raised objections about the unhygienic conditions on board.