Qatar Airways manager allegedly misbehaved with US citizen Gurpartap Singh at Amritsar airport
Amritsar, India – Gurpartap Singh, an American citizen of Sikh heritage from Virginia, has alleged ill-treatment at the hands of a Qatar Airways manager at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar. The incident reportedly took place on December 29, leaving Singh deeply distressed and stranded.
Incident details: Gurpartap Singh arrived at Amritsar airport for his scheduled flight with Qatar Airways. During the check-in process, an issue arose, allegedly due to an error by the airline staff. Instead of resolving the matter professionally, the Qatar Airways manager allegedly misbehaved with Singh. According to Singh, instead of resolving the issue or providing assistance, the manager called airport security and escorted him out of the terminal, which further escalated the situation.
US Embassy Response: Following the incident, Singh attempted to seek assistance from the US Embassy in New Delhi. However, his attempts to escalate the matter were met with indifference. Singh claimed that the person who answered his call at the embassy, whom he identified as being of South Indian origin, dismissed his concerns and advised him to call back in the morning.
Missed flight and current situation: Due to the confrontation and lack of timely assistance, Singh missed his Qatar Airways flight. Left with no options, he is now coordinating with another airline to confirm his travel back to the United States. Singh expressed disappointment at the lack of sensitivity shown by airline staff and the embassy.
Allegations of bias: Gurpratap Singh has raised concerns about potential bias in the way he was treated, stressing that his identity as a Sikh may have played a role in the incident. “As an American citizen, I expected better treatment. I was humiliated and mistreated,” Singh said.
Public Outcry: The Sikh community in both India and the US has expressed outrage over the alleged mistreatment of Gurpartap Singh. Many have demanded an investigation into the behavior of the Qatar Airways manager and the handling of the situation by airport officials.
Call for Action: Singh has urged Qatar Airways and airport officials to take responsibility for the incident and ensure that no other passenger is treated this way in the future. He also asked the US embassy to provide better support to its citizens in distress.
Qatar Airways and the US embassy in New Delhi have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
The incident raises important questions about the responsibility of airlines and diplomatic missions to treat passengers and resolve complaints promptly and respectfully.
